Jenny Shin surged ahead on Friday at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open, establishing a comfortable five‑stroke cushion over the rest of the field. While Shin was thriving, fellow competitors Lottie Woad, Charley Hull and Nelly Korda wrestled with the blustery conditions that swept across the historic Dundonald Links.
Co‑leader Lauren Coughlin, who had shared the overnight top spot with Shin at six under par, also found the day challenging. She stumbled on the front nine, posting a two‑over‑par 38, before steadying her play in the back nine to finish the round at even par. That effort left 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 regained her footing, riding the confidence generated by a spectacular 66 in the first round. She carded a five‑under‑par 67 on day two, a score that mirrored her opening‑day brilliance and pushed her five strokes clear of second‑place holder Esther Henseleit, who was sitting at 11 under.
"I made birdies when I could and tried really hard not to make any three‑putts," Shin explained after her round, noting how closely her score matched the 66 she posted on Thursday. "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 strong finish that featured birdies on the 16th and 17th holes, followed by an eagle on the par‑five third.
Those strokes lifted her to six under par after 36 holes, keeping her within striking distance of Shin’s lead. The cut was set at six over par. Charley Hull, after an uneven opening round of 78, found herself teetering on the cut line heading into the second round. She managed to hold on, posting a one‑under‑par 71 that included four birdies and three bogeys, ultimately finishing the day at five over par and securing her place for the weekend.
Hull’s compatriot, Georgia Hall, was less fortunate. An opening‑day 10‑over‑par round left her with a mountain to climb, and a second‑day 14‑over‑par total after six bogeys and two birdies saw her miss the cut entirely.
Defending champion Lottie Woad showed marked improvement on day two. After a two‑over‑par opening round, she navigated a double bogey on the 12th hole 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, allowing her to finish the round at level par. "It was pretty windy at the start," Woad said.
"I made an early double, so dropped two there, obviously. 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 was two under through the first six holes but then bogeyed the 16th and double‑bogeyed the 17th, erasing her early advantage.
A birdie on the fifth hole was offset by four consecutive bogeys to close the round, resulting in a 76 and a total of four over par. Four‑time major champion and Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist also fell down the leaderboard. After a promising first‑round 68 (two under), she posted a 79 on Friday, a seven‑over‑par effort that left her five over after 36 holes. The tournament continues with round three scheduled to start at 7:30 a.m.
on Saturday, broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf. Fans can also stream the action via NOW without a contract. The ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open remains a test of skill, composure, and adaptability as the field navigates the unpredictable winds and firm, undulating links terrain that define this storied Scottish venue.