Thitikul and Mack share the 2nd-round lead in Hawaii in the LOTTE Championship

HONOLULU (AP) — Thai golfer Jeeno Thitikul, currently ranked second, tied for the second-round lead in the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship on Friday. She achieved this feat by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole, resulting in a score of 7-under 65. Thitikul, a 23-year-old aiming for her fourth victory of the year, remained bogey-free after 36 holes at Hoakalei Country Club.

"It was lucky for us enough to not have that much gusts," Thitikul commented on the mostly calm afternoon conditions after rain and wind earlier in the day.

Her performance was matched by Germany's Polly Mack, who also closed with a birdie on 18 to secure a 12-under 132 total. Italy's Carolina Melgrati and South Korea's Ina Yoon trailed by one stroke. Melgrati's score was a 65 while Yoon shot a 67. The tournament leader, A Lim Kim from South Korea, was 10-under with a score of 69, followed by Michelle Zhang at 67.

At 9-under, Nasa Hataoka and Miyu Yamashita rounded out the top 10. The event will lead into a month of tournaments across Asia, starting with the Buick LPGA Shanghai on October 15-18.