Hannah Green eagles, Minjee Lee stays second in Women's PGA Championship second round
Minjee Lee has overcome sweltering conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in Texas.
On a day when the average score soared to around 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at 3-under for the championship.
Lee trails world number two Jeeno Thitikul by three shots after the Thai star shot to 6-under with a late flurry.
Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round 2-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course.
The 22-year-old former world number one will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship.
Further back in the field, world number eight Hannah Green showed how impressive any sort of consistency on the course was, with a rollercoaster round of 74.
Her round featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies, and 10 pars, plus the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-five 13th.
Meanwhile, the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee offset three bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title.
Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage.
Her late rally left Lee alongside Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a 1-under 71 to be tied for second.
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The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson.
The American continues to revel since retiring from full-time professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a 2-under second round.
Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at 1-under.
World number one Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at 2-over after managing only one birdie for the day.
Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at 3-over and equal 25th. Green is another stroke back.
Karis Davidson (75), Gabriela Ruffels (74), Hira Naveed (76) and Grace Kim (78) all made the cut.
AAP
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Hannah Green eagles, Minjee Lee stays second in Women's PGA Championship second round
Minjee Lee has overcome sweltering conditions to remain equal second at the halfway point of the Women's PGA Championship in Texas. On a day when the average score soared to around 77, Lee carved out an even-par second round of 72 to stay strong at 3-under for the championship. Lee trails world number two Jeeno Thitikul by three shots after the Thai star shot to 6-under with a late flurry. Chasing a maiden major, Thitikul birdied her last two holes in a second-round 2-under 70 at PGA Frisco's Fields Ranch East course. The 22-year-old former world number one will carry the 36-hole lead into a major for only the second time, having tied for 12th after being the halfway pacesetter at the 2024 Chevron Championship. Further back in the field, world number eight Hannah Green showed how impressive any sort of consistency on the course was, with a rollercoaster round of 74. Her round featured a double bogey, four bogeys, two birdies, and 10 pars, plus the shot of the day, a hole-out eagle at the par-five 13th. Meanwhile, the Perth-raised, Dallas-based Lee offset three bogeys with three birdies to stay firmly in the mix for a third major title. Significantly, unlike the first round when she dropped two shots in the last three holes, Lee hung tough down the stretch with three back-nine birdies after slipping four strokes behind at one stage. Her late rally left Lee alongside Japan's Rio Takeda, who carded a 1-under 71 to be tied for second. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ The pair are one shot ahead of sentimental favourite Lexi Thompson. The American continues to revel since retiring from full-time professional golf, Thompson climbing to fourth with a 2-under second round. Japan's Chisato Iwai and American Auston Kim, who both posted second-round 72s, are the only other players in red numbers at 1-under. World number one Nelly Korda (74) is tied for 16th at 2-over after managing only one birdie for the day. Steph Kyriacou (75) is the next best of the Australians, one shot behind Korda, at 3-over and equal 25th. Green is another stroke back. Karis Davidson (75), Gabriela Ruffels (74), Hira Naveed (76) and Grace Kim (78) all made the cut. AAP
