Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Polly Mack of Germany share the second-round lead in Hawaii at the LOTTE Championship, with Thitikul making a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole for a 7-under 65. The round put her at 12-under 132 after 36 holes at Hoakalei Country Club.
Thitikul, ranked second in the world, is seeking her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the year. She was bogey-free through two rounds.
“It was lucky for us enough to not have that much gusts,” Thitikul said after mostly calm afternoon conditions followed rain and wind Thursday morning.
The 18th Hole
The par-5 18th proved decisive for both leaders. Thitikul’s 12-foot birdie on the green sealed her share of the lead. Mack also closed with a birdie on 18 for her 65.
Round Scores
Thitikul’s 65 matched Mack’s score. Both players finished at 12-under 132 after two days of play.
| Player | Round 1 | Round 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jeeno Thitikul | 67 | 65 | 132 |
| Polly Mack | 66 | 65 | 132 |
The Chase Behind
Three players sit one stroke behind the leaders. Carolina Melgrati of Italy and Ina Yoon of South Korea each moved up after day two.
Melgrati had a 65, and Yoon shot 67.
First-Round Leader Drops Back
First-round leader A Lim Kim of Korea shot 69 and now sits 10 under. Michelle Zhang, who posted a 67, joins her at that mark.
Kim won the 2024 tournament.
Other Contenders
Nasa Hataoka shot 65, and Miyu Yamashita posted a 67. Both players sit 9 under.
Conditions Matter
Thursday brought rain and wind to the course. Friday offered calmer afternoon conditions.
Thitikul’s comment about luck with the wind speaks for itself. She got good conditions when others might have struggled.
What Comes Next
The LOTTE Championship leads to a month of tournaments in Asia. The schedule starts with the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Oct. 15-18.
The Round at a Glance
Thitikul’s 65 came without a bogey, a solid performance on a course that tested players on Thursday. Mack matched that score with her own late birdie on 18.
The leaderboard remains wide open heading into the weekend. Thitikul and Mack hold the clubhouse lead, but a large group sits within striking distance.
What We Make of It
Thitikul’s comment about the wind was modest, almost self-effacing. It was lucky for her to avoid the gusts that hit Thursday morning, and she played her round in perfect conditions.
The 65 was a strong round, and being bogey-free over 36 holes is a real accomplishment. Mack matched that score with her own late birdie on 18, showing the quality of play at the top of the field.
The tightness of the leaderboard adds to the drama. Kim, the first-round leader, dropped to 10 under, while Zhang joined her at that mark. Hataoka and Yamashita are also close behind.
The week ahead will separate the contenders from the rest. The LOTTE Championship has set the stage for a busy stretch in Asia, and the players who perform here will carry momentum into the Buick LPGA Shanghai.
- Thitikul and Mack tied at 12-under 132
- Thitikul shot 7-under 65, Mack shot 65
- Thitikul was bogey-free over 36 holes
- Rain and wind hit Thursday, calm followed Friday
- Next tournament: Buick LPGA Shanghai, Oct. 15-18
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