Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen closed with an eagle on the 18th hole Friday to fire a 6-under par 65 and take a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Dana Open at Sylvania, Ohio.
After an early birdie and bogey, Wannasaen was 6 under over her final 11 holes to roar in front by a shot over Sweden's Linn Grant (65 on Friday) and China's Xiyu Lin (67) at Highland Meadows Golf Club. Another shot back at 9 under is China's Mary Liu (65).
Ireland's Stephanie Meadow had a day to forget as she dropped out of contention and just about scrap over the cut line.
Going into the day on -3 after a solid opening round, Meadow struggled throughout and hit five bogeys on her way to a round of 74. That left he just the right side of the cut as she finished the second round level for the tournament.
"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 3 wood on the green from 261 yards and made the short putt after a birdie 4 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. And then also that I can play aggressive without being penalized too much when it doesn't go my way.
"It sets me up for some good momentum, and (I can) really get the birdies going."
Grant closed with birdies at No. 10, 13 and 17, with a par 5 on the 18th hole.
Lin was 3 under on the front nine before making a bogey 5 at the 11th hole. She closed with two birdies, including one at 18.
"I think this course overall, it really like suits my eyes and it's all about putting for me," Lin said. "Then I feel like here, I just need to get on the fairway and be smart and then I'll have plenty of opportunities. Then I just need to work the putter well."
Five players are tied for fifth place at 7 under, including first-round leader Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea, who shot an even-par 71 in the second round.
The tournament held Lexi Thompson Day, and the player of honor rose to the occasion with a 2-under 69 to sit at 1 under for the tournament, one shot above the cut line. To mark the occasion, there was a fly-over at the course in the morning.
"I knew I had to shoot a few under today and gave myself a lot of opportunities," Thompson said. "Just didn't really capitalize on those, but excited for the weekend. It's going to be great weather, so hopefully more putts drop."
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