In- Kyung Kim leads the way after Day 2 of the Ricoh Women's British Open

In-Kyung Kim

Playing through torrential rain, In-Kyung Kim returned a second round of 68 at Kingsbarns Golf Links on Friday evening to take a two-stroke lead in the Ricoh Women’s British Open.

Kim went to the turn in one-under-par but eagled the long 11th to move one stroke clear of the clubhouse leaders, Georgia Hall and Lexi Thompson. She then birdied the par-4 17th during a particularly heavy downpour to extend her lead at the championship’s halfway stage.

The world number 21 claimed her sixth LPGA title a fortnight ago, a year after winning for the third time on the LET at the ISPS HANDA Ladies European Masters, in Germany.

She said: “I really didn’t know what I was shooting. I just wanted to play in my own time, because it was really hard, especially on the last three or four holes when it was pouring down. I just had to move forward.”

She added that her eagle on 11 was “unexpected”, as her drive ran downhill leaving her 206 yards to the front and she dribbled a 5-wood up to within 20 feet, before draining the putt.

The race for the Smyth Salver, awarded to the leading amateur who plays all four rounds, looks set to go to the wire with 2016 Ladies’ British Open Amateur champion, Sophie Lamb, posting a second round 71 to finish tied with World No. 1, Leona Maguire, on four under par 140. They also have My Leander right on their tails after the Swedish international posted a 70 to complete 36-holes on three under par 141.

The cut fell at one under par and among those who made it with nothing to spare were World No. 1, So Yeon Ryu, and one of her predecessors, Lydia Ko.

Sally Watson

The only Scot to make the cut was Sally Watson on 3 under.