After shooting 68 and 69, Hall has carted nine rounds at the Women’s Open in the last five years in the 1960s – no one has done more
| -7 M Harigae (USA), G Hall (Eng); -6 SY Kim (Cor), L. Salas (USA); -5 N Körstz Madsen (Den), Y Noh (USA), L Maguire (Irish), Y Saso (Phi), L Thompson (USA) |
| Selected others:-3 L. Duncan * (Sco); E. A Fuller * (Eng), L Davies (Eng); +1 I. Park (Kor), K. MacDonald (Sco); +3 S. Popow (Ger.); |
| Complete ranking |
| * stands for amateur |
England’s Georgia Hall continued her bid for a second title at the AIG Women’s Open by taking part of the clubhouse lead on day two in Carnoustie.
Hall, who won at Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s in 2018, shot a three-under-69 to get seven under par on the Scottish links at half-time.
American Mina Harigae is level with 25-year-old Hall after carding a 67.
World number one Nelly Korda and Madelene Sagstrom – who shared the lead overnight – are on the line.
South Korea’s Kim Sei-young was also positioned next to American Korda and Swede Sagstrom after the opening round on Thursday, but is now one shot behind Hall and Harigae.
World number four and 2020 PGA women’s champion Kim made a brilliant start with four birdies in the front half to take the lead.
But she faded in the back half to finish at six under with a 71.
Ireland’s Leona Maguire is another stroke with five under after a bogey-free 67.
Defending champion Sophia Popov – the German who was ranked 304 in the world at Troon 12 months ago – will miss the cut after a three-over-75.
Hall remains in the competition after parrying the double bogey
Kim’s dip allowed Hall to take control and the Englishman led with two strokes to a double bowey at par-four 15.
After parrying that blow, Hall regained her composure to parry the last three holes and stay at the top of the leaderboard.
Harigae, who ranks 65th in the world and is aiming for a first career win, joined Hall with four birdies on her final seven holes.
“I think I would have accepted that at the beginning of the day, the conditions were pretty calm and I played pretty well,” Hall told Sky Sports after her round.
“The pins were a bit tougher today, they were more hidden behind some bunkers, which was a bit difficult.
“I’ve been very happy with my last three holes, especially after doubles. I think I didn’t play the hole too badly, but it’s so easy to do doubles on this course.
“But I feel good here now and have done it before. The weather is not so nice on the weekend, so it will be interesting.”
Georgia Hall (left) played at Carnoustie for the first two days. at the side of Louise Duncan
Scottish amateur Louise Duncan slid down the rankings with a roller coaster lap that ended in a one-over 73.
The 21-year-old Stirling University student was one of the stars of the opening day with a four-under-67 that let her off from the front runners.
To back it up on Friday, she hit five birdies but was thrown back by six bogeys.
“It was definitely a different story than yesterday. There was a little bit of everything in there. I’m happy with the way I played and fought out there,” she told Sky Sports.
“I wasn’t as nervous as yesterday. I just made it a little difficult and then got lighter when I put a birdie putt in 13th place.
“I didn’t putt really well at the beginning today. That was really just patience, I just stuck to my routines and stayed patient with them.”
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