Japanese star Miyu Yamashita built off her phenomenal first round 68 with a fantastic -7 65 to open up a big lead at Royal Porthcawl.
Yamashita entered the day one back of her countrywomen Rio Takeda and Eri Okayama, but wasted no time erasing that deficit. Yamashita birdied the first two holes of the day to get into the solo lead.
After a series of pars, Yamashita caught fire in the middle of the round, making birdies on 9, 10, 11 and 13. After surviving the brutal stretch of 14-17 with four pars, which tripped up stars Nelly Korda and Lottie Woad today, she made one final birdie on the par 5 18.
Yamashita’s stats for the day were ridiculous. She kept the ball safe, hitting 13/14 fairways. She safely got on the green, hitting 14 greens in regulation and then she converted on the greens, needing only 26 putts.
Some may be surprised at the form coming into the week for the No. 15 ranked player in the world, as Yamashita is remarkably consistent. Over her last five starts on the LPGA Tour, Yamashita has finished in the top 15 four times. Between the LPGA and JLPGA Tour in 2024, Yamashita finished in the top two 11 times including two wins.
With the morning wave wrapping up their second rounds, Yamashita’s closest competitor is Rio Takeda, who is three strokes back of the lead at -8. Despite struggling with her ball striking, hitting just seven fairways and 10 greens, she grinded out a fantastic -3 score for the day, mostly thanks to an eagle on hole nine.
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