Hall one shot behind at British Open

What happened on Friday at the Ricoh Women’s British Open?

Georgia Hall will look to become the first English player in 14 years to win the British Open as she heads into the weekend at Royal Lytham & St Annes just one shot behind leader Pornanong Phatlum.

The 22-year-old from Bournemouth backed up Thursday’s 67 with yet another bogey-free round of 68 thanks to a fine back-nine of 34 which included three birdies.

Thailand’s Phatlum holds the slim lead, and she and Hall are the only two players in the field without a bogey over the opening two rounds. In seven starts at the British Open, Phatlum has missed six cuts, so this performance comes as a significant surprise.

Australia’s Minjee Lee managed to get to 12-under, but a double-bogey at the 16^th and a bogey at the tough 17^th left her tied with Hall on nine-under. Mamiko Higa also got to 11-under, but the Japanese lost her ball in a bush on the 17^th hole to fall back to the tie for second.

Sung Hyun Park, the KPMG PGA Championship winner, battled back well after a mid-round collapse to post a round of 70 to sit three shots back of the lead, while So Yeon Ryu is one shot behind her compatriot.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson made a hole-in-one on the par-3 ninth on her way to a five-under total alongside former world No.1 Lydia Ko.

Florentyna Parker posted a round of 70 to go into the weekend inside of the top-10, but it was bad news for Charley Hull, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Mel Reid and Laura Davies who all missed the cut.

Meanwhile, it was announced that next year’s Women’s British Open will take place at Woburn, as Royal Troon will host the tournament for the first time in 2020.

Women’s British Open leaderboard

-10 Phatlum

-9 Hall, Higa, M. Lee

-8 T. Lu

-7 S-H Park

-6 S-Y Ryu

Best quote

Georgia Hall:

I’ve kind of worked towards this week the last couple of months, and last week really helped me. I feel I’m putting quite well and hitting the balls good, and I think my course management is the key for me. That’s why I’m playing well so far.

Best moments

🚨HOLE IN ONE🚨

One bounce and IN for @brookehenderson on the 9th! That's another £2,000 for @ARUKnews 🎉#RWBO pic.twitter.com/19GhKKQNm1

— AIG Women’s Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 3, 2018

How about that from the 2019 Solheim Cup Captain! 🦅 #RWBO pic.twitter.com/8jhWQ3ERrH

— AIG Women’s Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 3, 2018

The bond between player and caddie is always a special one ☺️ @jutanugarn #RWBO pic.twitter.com/aChtETlfP0

— AIG Women’s Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 3, 2018

Alex Perry

Editor

Alex is a Devonian who enjoys wittering on about his south west roots, Alex moved north to join NCG after more than a decade in London, the last five of which were with ESPN. Away from golf, Alex follows Torquay United and spends too much time playing his PlayStation or his guitar and not enough time practising his short game.

Handicap: 14