Hinako Shibuno continues strong start, leads Scottish Open
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Shibuno followed up a 64 on Thursday by collecting five birdies and her first bogey of the event on Friday.
PHOTO: AFP
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TROON – Hinako Shibuno battled setbacks and difficult conditions as she carded a four-under 68 on Friday to seize a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Women’s Scottish Open.
The Japanese followed up a 64 on Thursday by collecting five birdies and her first bogey of the event on Friday at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire. She overcame three-putting the first hole, dropping a shot, to get back on track.
“I did very well, so I was not focusing too much on that bogey,” said Shibuno, 24, who has seven professional wins, six of which have come in Japan. “That wind was getting weaker and weaker, but still there was some wind, and it was very difficult for me.”
She claimed the 2019 Women’s British Open but has not won an event since 2021. She was at 12-under 132, two ahead of Maja Stark (65). The Swede strung together eight birdies – including five in a row from the 12th hole – against one bogey.
“I had a really frustrating headache on the first six holes,” Stark said. “I didn’t really care about my game, to be honest. Maybe it was a good thing that I didn’t really pay attention. But then we got that figured out and I started making some putts.”
Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, who won last week’s Evian Championship, shot a 68. She had six birdies against two bogeys to join Australian Sarah Kemp (68) in a tie for third at 137.
“This morning was definitely a little bit less windy than yesterday. I had a lot of birdie chances, more birdies than yesterday. So that was pretty positive,” Boutier said. “I feel like my game is in place, just hoping to keep going for the weekend.”
Kemp was pleased with her putting on Friday. “Pretty sure I hit a lot of greens, and I definitely holed some putts,” she said. “So I (was) joking with my caddie, the longest putt I holed last week I think was like 15 or 16 feet, and I holed a 24-footer today, so pretty happy with that.”
Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, who was in second place after the first round, carded a 73 in her second round. She sits at five-under, one stroke ahead of a big group that includes South Korean Chun In-gee (66).
Defending champion Ayaka Furue of Japan struggled in her second straight round. A 74 and 73 leaves her in a tie for 65th at three-over for the tournament, the final event before next week’s Women’s British Open, the final Major of the season. REUTERS
