Jenny Shin took a five-shot lead at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open on Friday, as Lottie Woad, Charley Hull and Nelly Korda again toiled with the windy conditions at Dundonald Links.
Lauren Coughlin, who had joined Shin as the overnight co-leader at six under par, also struggled, going two over par in her front nine holes, before returning to the clubhouse at level par, to move to four under through 36 holes.
Despite a bumpy start, posting a bogey on the first, Shin, capitalised on her momentum from what was a sensational opening-round 66, to shoot a five-under par 67 and take a commanding five-shot lead over Esther Henseleit in second at 11 under par.
Shin said she had never held a five shot lead in her career before
“I made birdies when I could and tried really hard not to make any 3-putts,” Shin said, speaking on almost matching her first-round score of 66.
“I have never had a five-shot lead before,” She added. “I’m going to try and stay patient over the next two days. It is links golf.”
Henseleit, who started on the back nine, pushed herself up to solo second on the leaderboard after making birdies on holes 16 and 17, before holing out for an eagle on the par five third to move to six under par through 36 holes.
The cut line was set at six over par, and after Hull endured an indifferent opening round, shooting a 78, she came into her second round tiptoeing on the cut line.
Nelly Korda (left) and Charley Hull (right) both struggled during their third rounds
The English golfer held her nerve, mixing in four birdies and three bogeys to post a one-under par 71 to book her place at the weekend, moving to five over par through 36 holes.
Her good friend and compatriot, Georgia Hall, was unable to recover from an opening round score of 10 over par and missed the cut after she dropped to 14 over after carding six bogeys and two birdies on day two.
Woad improves but struggles with putter
Woad enjoyed a much-improved second day at Dundonald Links after moving to two-over par for her first round, after overcoming a bumpy start.
The 22-year-old made a double bogey on the 12th hole, but bounced back with consecutive birdies on 14 and 15. She then added a bogey on the 16th, before making another birdie on hole 17.
“It was pretty windy at the start,” Woad, the defending champion, said. “I made an early double. So dropped two there, obviously. Hit some really nice iron shots kind of for the rest of the day, fairways and greens.
Woad made the turn at two over, and a further two birdies on holes three and five brought her back to level par.
Lottie Woad struggled with her putter during her third round
“I didn’t really make any putts to be honest with you,” she added. “I could have shot a lot better, but I was much happier with how I hit it today compared to yesterday.”
World No 1 Nelly Korda, who began the day at level par, fell to four over at the end of her second round. Korda, who started on the back nine, had moved to two under through six holes before she made a bogey on 16 and followed that up with a double bogey on hole 17.
The four-time major champion made a birdie on the fifth, but then made four consecutive bogeys in her final four holes to shoot a second-round 76 and move to four over par.
Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist followed Korda in dropping down the leaderboard, after she opened her tournament with a first-round score of two under par. On Friday, Nordqvist shot a seven-over par 79 to drop to five-over through 36 holes.
Watch round three of the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open LIVE on Sky Sports Golf from 7.30am on Saturday. Get Sky Sports or stream golf with no contract