Jenny Shin surged ahead with a five‑stroke cushion at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open on Friday, while Lottie Woad, Charley Hull and Nelly Korda continued to wrestle with the blustery conditions that have defined play at Dundonald Links. Lauren Coughlin, who had shared the overnight lead with Shin at six under par, also found the wind unforgiving. After a shaky front nine that saw her drop two strokes over par, she steadied herself on the back nine and finished the round at even par, leaving her at four under after the first 36 holes. Shin’s round began with a setback – a bogey on the opening hole – but she quickly found her rhythm, building on the momentum of a spectacular opening‑round 66.
She posted a five‑under‑par 67 on Friday, extending her lead to five strokes over second‑place holder Esther Henseleit, who sat at 11 under after a strong finish that included birdies on the 16th and 17th and an eagle on the par‑five third hole. "I made birdies when I could and tried really hard not to make any three‑putts," Shin explained, noting how closely her second‑round score mirrored her 66 from day one. "I have never had a five‑shot lead before. I’m going to try and stay patient over the next two days.
It is links golf." Henseleit, who started her round on the back nine, climbed into solo second place after a late‑day charge that saw her finish six under through 36 holes. The cut was set at six over par, and despite a difficult first round, Charley Hull managed to cling to the line. Hull’s opening 78 placed her in a precarious position, but she steadied herself with a one‑under‑par 71 in the second round – a card that featured four birdies and three bogeys – allowing her to survive the cut at five over after two rounds.
Hull’s compatriot, Georgia Hall, was not as fortunate. After a disastrous opening round of ten over par, Hall could not recover; a second‑day 14‑over performance, riddled with six bogeys and only two birdies, saw her fall well outside the cut line. Defending champion Lottie Woad showed marked improvement on Friday.
After a first‑round 2‑over, she entered the day with a double bogey on the 12th but responded with back‑to‑back birdies on the 14th and 15th. A bogey on the 16th was followed by another birdie on the 17th, leaving her at even par after the turn. "It was pretty windy at the start," Woad said. "I made an early double, so I dropped two there, obviously.
I hit some really nice iron shots for the rest of the day, fairways and greens. I didn’t really make any putts, to be honest. I could have shot a lot better, but I was much happier with how I hit it today compared to yesterday." World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who began the day at even par, slipped to four over after a turbulent second round.
Starting on the back nine, Korda had moved to two under through the first six holes but then made a bogey on 16 and a double bogey on 17. Although she birdied the fifth, a stretch of four consecutive bogeys on the closing holes produced a 76, leaving her at four over after 36 holes. Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist also fell down the leaderboard.
After opening with a two‑under 68, she posted a seven‑over 79 on Friday, dropping to five over after two rounds. The tournament continues to test players’ ability to adapt to the classic links elements – firm, fast fairways, deep pot bunkers and, most notably, the wind that can change direction in an instant. Golfers must blend power with precision, and the ability to shape shots around the gusts often separates the leaders from the rest of the field. As the competition moves into its third round, viewers can tune in to Sky Sports Golf, which will broadcast live coverage from 7:30 a.m.
on Saturday. Fans also have the option to stream the event through NOW, ensuring that the drama of the Scottish links can be followed without a traditional contract. The ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open remains a key stop on the LPGA Tour schedule, offering both a showcase of elite talent and a reminder of the unique challenges that only a true links venue can provide.