NORTH BERWICK, Scotland — English amateur Lottie Woad continued her stunning professional debut at the Women's Scottish Open, firing a second-round 65 to take a two-shot lead over world No. 1 Nelly Korda at The Renaissance Club.
The 19-year-old Florida State University standout, playing on a sponsor's exemption, followed her opening 68 with a bogey-free round featuring six birdies to reach 11-under par. Woad's performance marks the first time an amateur has held the 36-hole lead in a Ladies European Tour event since Atthaya Thitikul at the 2018 Thailand Championship.
Woad's Remarkable Composure
Despite facing windy conditions and a star-studded field, Woad displayed veteran poise. "I just tried to treat it like any other tournament," said Woad. "The course suits my game well with the firm fairways and my irons have been really sharp."
Key factors in Woad's success:
- Leading the field in greens in regulation (83%)
- Averaging 265 yards off the tee
- Converting 8 of 9 scrambling opportunities
- Playing the par-5s in 7-under through two rounds
Korda's Steady Chase
World No. 1 Nelly Korda remained within striking distance after a 4-under 67, highlighted by back-to-back birdies on 17 and 18. "Lottie's playing amazing golf," Korda acknowledged. "But there's a lot of golf left and this course can bite you quickly."
The American star has been battling a cold all week but showed her trademark consistency:
- Hit 14/14 fairways in round two
- Leads the field in putts per GIR (1.65)
- Has made just one bogey through 36 holes
Other Contenders
A group of four players sit three shots back at 8-under, including:
- Defending champion Celine Boutier (67-67)
- LPGA major winner Hyo Joo Kim (66-68)
- Local favorite Gemma Dryburgh (68-66)
- Former world No. 1 Lydia Ko (69-65)
Ko's second-round 65 matched Woad for low round of the day. "The wind died down this afternoon and I took advantage," said Ko, who birdied five of her last seven holes. "This course rewards good iron play and I finally found my rhythm."
Weather Impact
Forecasted heavy rain for Saturday's third round could significantly impact scoring conditions. Tournament officials have moved tee times earlier in anticipation of afternoon storms.
"The course will play completely different if we get that rain," noted Boutier. "The greens will soften and we'll be able to attack more pins. But the rough will also get thicker and more penal."
Amateur History in the Making
Should Woad maintain her lead, she would become:
- The first amateur to win on the LPGA Tour since Lydia Ko in 2013
- The first amateur winner in Women's Scottish Open history
- Only the third amateur to win a LET event since 2000
- The first English amateur to win a professional event since 1987
Woad remains eligible to collect the $300,000 first-place prize money should she turn professional before the trophy presentation. When asked about her plans, she responded: "I'm just focused on playing good golf. All that other stuff can wait until Sunday night."
The third round begins at 7:30 AM local time with Woad and Korda paired together in the final group at 1:15 PM. Golf Channel will broadcast coverage from 10 AM to 1 PM ET, with streaming available on Peacock.
