Somi Lee Fires 61 to Lead LPGA Thailand Tournament Over Jeeno Thitikul

Somi Lee leads the LPGA Thailand tournament with a 17-under 127 total, while Jeeno Thitikul sits three strokes back after a 63.

Somi Lee surged to the summit of the leaderboard at the LPGA Thailand on Friday, carding a 9-under 61 to reach a two-round total of 17-under 127. The South Korean standout holds a three-stroke advantage over World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul, who moved into second place with a 9-under 63 at the Old Course. Lee’s record-setting performance was highlighted by an eagle 2 from the fairway on the par-4 15th hole. Thitikul, celebrating her 23rd birthday during the second round, sits at 14-under par as the field prepares for the weekend near Bangkok.

Chizzy Iwai of Japan climbed into a tie for third place after signing for a bogey-free 62. She shares that position with New Zealander Lydia Ko, who posted a 64 to sit four strokes off the pace. The competition, situated approximately 75 miles east of the Thai capital, serves as the opening leg of a three-week Asian swing that will continue with upcoming events in Singapore and China.

Thitikul’s Birthday Charge and Front-Nine Surge

Jeeno Thitikul utilized a blistering stretch on her opening nine to briefly seize the lead on Friday. After entering the day trailing by two strokes following the first round, the Thai star recorded four birdies and an eagle over her final six holes of the front nine. She maintained that momentum into the turn, birdying the 10th and 11th holes to move to the apex of the standings. However, her scoring pace slowed on the inward half, where she registered six consecutive pars before closing her round with a final birdie on the 18th hole.

Thitikul noted the significance of the local support, stating it was pleasant to hear birthday wishes from fans while navigating the layout. Her 63 moved her clear of the chasing pack but left her trailing the 127 total set by the leader. The World No. 1 remains the primary challenger heading into the final 36 holes of her home event.

Somi Lee’s Career-Best Performance

Lee described her second-round 61 as the best score of her life, an achievement that left the South Korean player emotional following the round. Despite the record-setting day, she emphasized that two days of competition remain and expressed a desire to celebrate briefly before focusing on the conclusion of the tournament. Her scorecard featured consistent gains, anchored by the spectacular eagle on the 15th that separated her from the rest of the field.

While the lead pair dominated the rankings, other notable players struggled to keep pace with the double-digit under-par scores. Canadian Brooke Henderson carded a 4-under 68 on Friday, bringing her total to 5-under par. This leaves Henderson 12 strokes behind the frontrunner. Meanwhile, defending champion Angel Yin faced difficulties during her second trip around the Pattaya venue, shooting a 3-over 75 to sit at even par for the tournament.

Tournament Outlook and Field Standings

The leaderboard remains tight behind the top two spots. With Iwai and Ko sitting at 13-under par, the gap between third place and the lead is four strokes. Iwai’s clean card on Friday represented one of the most efficient rounds of the day, matching the low-scoring trend seen across the upper half of the field.

As the first of three consecutive Asian events, the results in Thailand will set the tone for the swing through Singapore and China. The scoring conditions remained favorable on Friday, as evidenced by the multiple rounds in the low 60s. For Thitikul, the objective remains closing the three-shot deficit, while Henderson and Yin will look to improve their positions from 5-under and even par, respectively, during the third round on Saturday.