The high temperature on Day 2 of the 2024 Jing-Mao Ladies Open tested players’ patience and concentration. Overnight leader Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆), despite committing a couple more mistakes, retained a share of the lead with An Ho-Yu (安禾佑) and two-time 2024 Tour winner P.K. Kongkraphan on 6-under 138.

Tsai Hsing Elite Club, new venue for the third annual Jing-Mao Open, plays to a par 73 at 6,339 yards.

Yao, An, and Kongkraphan will start in the last group in Friday’s final round. Wannasiri Sirisampant stands within striking distance on 4-under 136 in solo fourth place. A total of 56 among the 101 players who were on 4-over 146 or better advanced to the final round after today’s cut.

Yao, who started the day at 5-under par, dropped a shot on Hole 4, but then beautifully back-spinned and holed out a chip shot right on the following hole to snatch an eagle, giving her just enough confidence to fend off the pressure from a big chasing back behind her.

“It was hot and windy, not the most pleasant conditions. But my iron game held up pretty nicely. It helped me to get some easier putts on the greens,” said Yao. “That eagle was honestly a good surprise. My second shot went unexpectedly short. It was in front of the elevated green and still about 30 yards to go. I was just trying to lift it close to the pin from the left side, and boom, the ball just rolled in.”

“I got unlucky a few times on the back nine. Like when I landed into a divot crater on the 12th fairway. But I tried to stay calm under the wind, and not let how other players were doing affect me. I think at the end, it was a pretty good round overall with plenty of birdie chances. I did the best I could,” Yao added.

An was one of the early threats to the lead, who used a steady approach to constantly land the ball near the pin to keep some low putt numbers that once saw her move into outright lead. “I missed some greens, so it might not look good on paper, but I was hitting so well from just outside the greens, sending the ball close to the holes. And that gave me some easy putts to work with” said An, whose best outing this year has been a pair of T2s at the WPG Ladies Open and the Da Da Digital Ladies Open. She needed 29 putts today.

P.K. Kongkraphan again delivered a successful aggressive game plan to card her second straight 4-under 69. “I was better today on the tees. The pin positions were pretty tough. I think I did well to hit the ball pin-high, which earned me some chances but unfortunately I missed a few of them. Still, I think I’m hitting solid, having a good perspective on the game. Yeah, I’m pretty confident at the moment,” said the Thai.

Another Thai rising into contention was Wannasiri Sirisampant. She hit 11 fairways and 13 greens, and turned in a second-round 70 to be in solo fourth right now. “Unfortunately, I finished with a bogey on the 18th, though. It was a combination of some nerves and unlucky shots, hitting the cart path and recovering from the thick roughs, and all that. But I think I did well to minimize the damage there. Other than that, I believe I’m playing some competitive golf, and I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s final round,” said Sirisampant.

This week, the TLPGA Tour travels to Tsai Hsing Elite Club for the third annual Jing-Mao Ladies Open, title-sponsored by Jing Mao Construction. 101 players from four nations battle it out for the NT$540,000 top prize in the NT$3 million event through Wednesday to Friday. Additional hole-in-one prizes from Departure, Franz, SAMPO, EAGLE Golf, and BESV E-Bike are still up for grabs for the first ace on the par-3s.