Japan’s Hinako Shibuno leads the FREED GROUP Women’s Scottish Open from Sweden’s Maja Stark after the second day of play in Ayrshire; watch the third round of action at Dundonald Links on Saturday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf
Highlights of the second day at the Scottish Open
Hinako Shibuno of Japan carded a four-under-par 68 on Friday to maintain a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Women’s Scottish Open in Ayrshire.
Shibuno followed up a 64 on Thursday by collecting five birdies and her first bogey of the event on Friday at Dundonald Links. She overcame three-putting on the first hole to get back on track.
“Well, I think I did very well, so I was not thinking anything about it,” said Shibuno, who has seven professional wins of which six came in Japan.
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The Japanese star won the AIG Women’s Open in 2019, but has not claimed victory since 2021.
Shibuno resides at 12-under for the tournament, two shots ahead of Sweden’s Maja Stark, who shot a 65 on Friday. Stark strung together eight birdies – including five in a row on holes 12-16 – against one bogey.
Hinako Shibuno maintained her lead on day two of the Scottish Open
France’s Celine Boutier, who won the penultimate major of the season last week at the Evian Championship, shot a 68 on Friday. She totalled six birdies – including three straight on the front nine – against two bogeys on Friday to join Australian Sarah Kemp in a tie for third place at seven-under.
“Yeah, I feel like this morning was definitely a little bit less windy than yesterday. And I feel like I had a lot of birdie chances, more birdies than yesterday. So that was that pretty positive,” Boutier said. “And, yeah, I feel like my game is in place. So I’m just hoping to keep going for the weekend.”
Kemp, who also recorded three straight birdies and six overall on Friday, was pleased with her putting on Friday.
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“Pretty sure I hit a lot of greens, and I definitely holed some putts,” she said. “So I (was) joking with my caddie, the longest putt I holed last week I think was like 15 or 16 feet, and I holed a 24-footer today, so pretty happy with that.
“But, yeah, just nice and solid, and, yeah, putted really well.”
Sweden’s Madelene Sagstrom, who was in second place after the first round, finished her second round with a 73 on Friday. She sits at five-under, one stroke ahead of an eight-golfer contingent that includes South Korean In Gee Chun (66).
Defending champion Ayaka Furue of Japan struggled in her second straight round. She followed up a 74 on Thursday with a 73 on Friday to sit in a tie for 65th at three-over for the tournament.
Watch the Women’s Scottish Open throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage continues on Saturday from 1pm on Sky Sports Golf and stream it on NOW.
