Graniteville, South Carolina, United States: Pimpisa Rubrong will take a three-stroke lead into the penultimate round of the Junior Invitational at Sage Valley Golf Club.
The Thai, who has committed to Arizona State University, followed an opening-day 70 with a three-under-par 69 on day two, a round containing four birdies against a solitary bogey.
Bidding to become the first Asia-Pacific winner in what is the fourth edition of the girls’ division, Pimpisa is three shots clear of second-placed Canadian Aphrodite Ding with whom she shared first-day honours.
Among those also in contention are China’s Liu Yujie and Korean Oh Soo-min.
Liu carded a 73 for a two-day total of even-par 144 that leaves her in fourth place, while Oh (74), runner-up in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in Vietnam a fortnight ago, is a further stroke back in a share of fifth.
Australian Sarah Hammett (75) and Thai Achiraya Sriwong (77) improved on their opening-day efforts by four and three shots respectively. In the 24-player field, Hammett is joint 18th and Achiraya tied for 21st.
Meanwhile, Joshua Bai maintained his challenge in the 36-player boys’ category.
The New Zealander, who led by one shot after a first-day 67, had four birdies against three bogeys in a one-under 71.
With an aggregate of 138 he shares top spot with American Luke Colton.
Bai’s compatriot and Nomura Cup team-mate Robby Turnbull worked his way into the top-10 with a 71 that puts him six shots off the pace.
One stroke back on 145 is Vietnam’s Le Khanh Hung (72), followed by Indian Kartik Singh (73, 147), Vietnamese Nguyen Anh Minh (77, 147), Indonesian Rayhan Latief (75, 150) and Thai Thanawin Lee (80, 155).
