Korean finishes at 11-under to take 3-shot lead over Thai favourite
PUBLISHED : 20 Feb 2026 at 17:48
PATTAYA – Lee So-Mi of South Korea seized the halfway lead at the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament in spectacular fashion on Friday, while Thai favourite Jeeno Thitikul celebrated her 23rd birthday with a magical masterclass.
On one of the lowest-scoring days in the rich 19-year history of the championship, Lee threatened to become the first player to break 60 at Siam Country Club Old Course, eventually signing for an 11-under-par 61.
With a 36-hole aggregate of 17-under 127, Lee heads into the weekend with a three-stroke advantage over second-placed Jeeno, who posted a nine-under 63, her second successive bogey-free round. One shot further back in joint third are Lydia Ko (64) of New Zealand and Chisato “Chizzy” Iwai (62) of Japan.
Australian Hannah Green, Spaniard Julia Lopez Ramirez and American Allisen Corpuz all fired 65s and share fifth place on 132.
Despite steamy conditions, the course was defenceless against world-class players hungry to begin their 2026 season in style. Korean Lee Mi-Hyang emulated Jeeno’s 63 while there were no fewer than four 64s, seven 65s, one 66, four 67s, seven 68s and nine 69s.
Out in seven-under 29, Lee So-Mi made further gains at 10 and 11. Three pars followed before she holed a 20-footer for an eagle-two at 15 to put a sub-60 return within the realms of possibility.
However, a birdie chip at 16 lipped out and she narrowly failed with a putt for a three at 17. That meant she needed to eagle the par-five 18th to become only the second player in LPGA Tour history to shoot a 59, after Swede Annika Sorenstam in 2001.
Short in two at the dog-leg left closing hole, Lee struck a sweet wedge approach that flew just left of the flag, leaving her a 12-foot downhiller for a birdie and a 60. Although that effort did not drop, the 27-year-old was thrilled — and somewhat stunned.
Lee won the Dow Championship last year in partnership with compatriot Im Jin-Hee but is still awaiting her maiden solo LPGA Tour triumph.
“I had the best score of my life, so I’m a little emotional,” she said after Friday’s round. “As there are still two more days to go at this tournament, I’ll only celebrate a little bit.” (Story continues below)
World No.1 Jeeno Thitikul of Ratchaburi celebrated her 23rd birthday with a nine-under par 63 on the second day of the Honda LPGA Thailand.
For a while, Jeeno, playing four groups ahead of Lee, also looked like she might challenge Sorenstam’s historic mark as she raced to eight-under through 11 holes.
Only one further birdie at the 18th followed, but Jeeno was delighted to spend such a special day for her in the company of many hundreds of the Jeeno Thitikul Fan Group. Every time the world No.1 made birdie, spectators broke into a chorus of Happy Birthday to You.
“It’s special to spend my birthday in my home country — and it was nice to have a lot of birdies,” said Jeeno, whose round was highlighted by an eagle-three at the seventh and seven birdies. “That’s why I heard so many happy birthday songs, the most in my life! I think I’ve created good memories with the spectators.”
Of her bogey-free performance over the first two days, she said: “I know where to miss, where not to go. And for the past two days I’ve been in a good position, where I want my ball to be. If you can put the ball where it’s not too risky, it should be not a big problem at this golf course.”
Comparatively speaking, it was not such a good day for Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who set the pace on day one with 65s. On day two, both bogeyed the 18th, with Chanettee signing for a one-under 71 and Hataoka settling for a 72.