PORTLAND, Oregon - Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, in search of her first LPGA tournament win, holds a one-shot lead midway through the Standard Portland Classic.
The 24-year-old Saraburi native shot a second consecutive 6-under-par 66 on Friday at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Oregon. Her 12-under 132 total leaves her one stroke ahead of compatriot Pajaree Anannarukarn and Sophia Schubert of the US, who each carded a 66, and Choi Hye-Jin of South Korea, who shot a second-round 67.
World No.2 Jeeno Thitikul, who had a 67, is part of a big group two shots back at 9-under par.
Arpichaya, also known as “Piano”, enjoyed a stellar day until she logged her lone bogey on the par-4 18th hole. Before that, she had seven birdies, including three in a row from the fifth through seventh holes.
“Pretty good day for my putter,” she said of her 24 putts on Friday, after needing only 23 on Thursday. “Just the last hole (tripped me up) a little bit.
“For me, 36 holes (with) just one bogey is amazing,” she added, saying she hoped positive thinking would help her through the final two rounds.
Arpichaya, who joined the tour in 2023, made the cut for the 10th time in 15 events this year. She has had two runner-up finishes — at the Riviera Maya Open at Mayakoba in April and the ShopRite LPGA in May — and has won $577,000 on the Tour so far this year.
Pajatee had a card similar to that of Arpichaya — seven birdies ahead of just one bogey, at the par-4 17th hole.
Schubert also produced seven birdies and one bogey, at the par-3 13th hole. She responded to that misstep by posting birdies on the next three holes.
“I had five or six weeks off at home leading up to this, and I worked really hard (on my putting),” Schubert said.
