Buhai’s bogey on the final was the one blemish in a superb spherical of 65 compiled largely when the wind dropped away from the afternoon play. Chun additionally shot 66 on this time because the draw proved significantly sort to the ‘early-late’ part of the draw.
15 of the highest 18 gamers tied tenth or higher performed on this part. The exceptions closest to the lead are two in-form gamers, the World No 2 from Australia Minjee Lee and Celine Boutier of France.
Muirfield briefly softened to let South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai revenue, however there was the predictable sting within the tail that left Korea’s Grand-Slam chasing In Gee Chun main the AIG Girls’s Open.
However they’re now 4 behind Chun, or Dumbo as she is universally identified – due to her acute sense of listening to. She went spherical in 66, her again 9 of four-under 31 coming on the temporary interlude of calm within the air.
Madelene Sagstrom was the final notable sufferer of Carnoustie’s 18th in elite play when she bogeyed through the greenside bunker to lose by a shot to Anna Norqvist.
The Swede rebounded to be a Solheim Cup star for Catriona Matthew and completed with three birdies within the final 4 holes to be joint second on seven-under.
Former champion Inbee Park – nonetheless hitting the ball fantastically with out obvious effort – is handily positioned alone in fourth. First spherical chief Hinako Shibuno misplaced a little bit floor, however is shut by at four-under.
The chief, after her PGA Championship win in June, is looking for what the ladies’s sport calls a Grand Slam – 4 of their 5 majors. All 5 is known as a Tremendous Grand Slam.
Chun’s key birdie at 17 got here after he badly misplaced her second shot brief and proper of the amphitheatre inexperienced. It was a tough pitch that went 15 ft by the pin, however she holed the return for the 4 that finally gave her the midway lead.
She and her caddie Dean Herden selected a little bit wager in the beginning of the week to get her in the best state of mind.
“If I’ve a bogey-free spherical he’s going to pay for dinner and pay me $100,” she mentioned. “It’s enjoyable, nevertheless it places me in the best mindset to play this course.
“I had a few bogeys yesterday and only one at the moment, however I’m going to maintain making an attempt to have a bogey-free spherical, that’s my aim.”
Buhai wasn’t too disillusioned with bunkering her method from the golf green and taking a 5 on the final. She’s been right here earlier than – she led by three at Woburn in 2019 however was overhauled on the weekend.
