England’s Georgia Hall continued her bid for a second AIG Women’s Open title by taking a share at Carnoustie.
Hall, who won at Royal Lytham and St. Anne’s in 2018, shot a three-under 69 to move to seven under par at the halfway stage on the Scottish links. American Mina Harigae is level with 25-year-old Hall after carding a 67. World number one Nelly Korda - who shared the overnight lead - dropped back with a one-over 73.
The 23-year-old American is the emerging star of the women’s game after winning her first major at the Women’s PGA in June and backing that up with gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
But she was unable to build on her opening round on a frustrating afternoon in calm conditions at Carnoustie.
Struggling to land putts, Korda started with eight pars before bogeys on nine and 11. Finally she converted a birdie putt on 14, but bogeyed the next, then superbly guided in a long birdie putt on 17 to leave her well placed to strike over the weekend.
Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom and South Korea’s Kim Sei-young were also positioned alongside Korda after the opening round on Thursday, but they too were unable to emerge as the frontrunner. (BBC Sport)