England’s Charley Hull carded the lowest second-round score at the Women’s PGA Championship as Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul extended her lead at the top of the leaderboard.
Hull carded a three-under-par 69, which included four birdies and a bogey, in the only round under 70 on a day when only 14 players broke par in hot and windy conditions at the Fields Ranch East course in Texas.
The 29-year-old shot 78 in her opening round and is on three over for the tournament, with leader Thitikul on six under.
World number two Thitikul has yet to win a major but put herself in a promising position after a two-under par round of 70, which included four birdies and two bogeys.
Thitikul said the “wind and the rough” provided the toughest challenges during the second round.
She added: “I had better tee shots than yesterday and put myself in the positions that I have a chance.
“If not, I just tried to make par. I think par, it’s a really big key here – no birdies but 18 pars, you take it.”
Thitikul’s nearest challengers are Japan’s Rio Takeda, who shot a 71, and Australian Minjee Lee, who went round in 72, with both players on three under par. American Lexi Thompson is on two under following a 70.
“[It] got pretty windy even for the morning,” said Thompson. “It was blowing more than it did yesterday, so I knew I just had to commit to my lines out there.
“It’s a tough golf course, especially when the wind blows. If you miss the fairways you just have to take your medicine, pitch out, and try to save par any way you can, make the worst score a bogey.”
World number one Nelly Korda could only manage a 74, which included two birdies and four bogeys, and the American is on two over par, while Ireland’s Leona Maguire is on the same score after also carding a 74.
South Korea’s Amy Yang won the tournament last year but, after rounds of 76 and 77, missed the cut on nine over par.