Late eagle puts Wannasaen on top, Aussie Kemp lurks

Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen closed with an eagle on the 18th to fire a 6-under par 65 for a one-shot lead midway through the Dana Open.

After an early birdie and bogey, Wannasaen was six under over her final 11 holes to roar in front by a stroke over Sweden’s Linn Grant (65) and China’s Xiyu Lin (67) at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania.

One further behind at 9 under is China’s Mary Liu (65), while the next set of challengers at seven under includes experienced Australian campaigner Sarah Kemp.

The Sydneysider followed his 68 with a 67, and is in a five-way tie for fifth.

Kemp made five birdies on Friday, including three in a row on Nos. 2, 3 and 4, but then gave one back on the fifth for her lone bogey. The 38-year-old then steadied, posting additional birdies on the 11th and 16th.

But Wannasaen is the player to catch.

“Today, I think on the front nine, I play not good, either, but it’s like birdie and then bogey and then par, par and then birdie again,” Wannasaen said.

“I think today is just like 4-under par for the day is enough. On the back nine, I played really good. The putter was really good on the back nine.”

On the par-5 18th hole, Wannasaen hit a three wood on the green from 261 yards and made the short putt after a birdie four at the 17th hole.

“I’m really nervous right now, so I think on the weekend I will do my best,” said Wannasaen, who is holding her first lead after 36 holes of an LPGA Tour event, thanks to a career-best 131 total.

“I don’t want to like get stressed for the weekend. Yeah, I just do the best (I can).”

Grant, the defending tournament champion, had eight birdies during the second round offset by a pair of bogeys. She said her success on the par-71 course came from a sense of familiarity.

“I think it just reminds me a lot about how I play golf at my home course,” Grant said. “The grass is very similar; ground feels similar. How I read the putts is very alike. It brings out just a joy of playing.”

Grant closed with birdies at No.10, 13 and 17, with a par 5 on the 18th hole.

Grace Kim (68) at three under is the only other Australian to make the weekend.

Robyn Choi (70) and Sarah Jane Smith (72) both missed the even-par cut by one.