Aditi makes cut; plays third round with World No. 1 Lydia Ko, Phatlum

Aditi Ashok ensured weekend action with a two-under card of 69 that positioned her in Tied-23rd position at the halfway stage of the US $ 2 million Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia on Friday. Aditi, who featured in the same event as an amateur last year and made the cut, had five birdies and three bogeys, one of which came as late as the 17th hole.

Interestingly in the third round, Aditi will play with Olympic silver medallist and World No. 1 Lydia Ko, who came to India as a 14-year-old amateur to play Queen Sirikit Cup in 2011, and Pornanong Phatlum, the Thai star, who before becoming a regular on LPGA won the Hero Women’s Indian Open three times. Both Ko and Phatlum have had identical first two rounds like Aditi with scorers of 71 and 69.

Aditi was some distance behind leader, Amy Yang, who added a 69, including a spectacular eagle, to her first round 63 to get to 10-under. The 27-year-old is at 10-under par, three shots ahead of second placed Candie Kung of Taiwan, compatriot Mi Jung Hur, and Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, all tied at 7-under par. Yang’s eagle in 11th came from 125 yards, when she holed her third shot from the fairway.

Aditi had a fine start with birdies on second and third, before a bogey on par-3 fifth. Further birdies on ninth and 10th saw her rise to three-under for the day. However she dropped shots on 12th and 17th and in between had a birdie on 15th.

Play was delayed due to rain late in the day, but the round was still completed.