Jenny Shin surged ahead with a commanding five‑stroke lead at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open on Friday, while fellow competitors Lottie Woad, Charley Hull and Nelly Korda continued to wrestle with the blustery conditions that have defined play at Dundonald Links. Sharing the top spot after the first round, Lauren Coughlin was paired with Shin as an overnight co‑leader at six under par. However, Coughlin’s round proved uneven; she posted a two‑over‑par front nine before steadying herself to finish the day at even par, leaving her at four under after 36 holes. Shin’s start to the tournament had been anything but smooth – a bogey on the opening hole set a tentative tone.

Yet she quickly found her rhythm, building on the momentum of an impressive opening‑round 66. On Friday she posted a five‑under‑par 67, widening her lead to five strokes over second‑place holder Esther Henseleit, who stood at 11 under. "I made birdies when I could and tried really hard not to make any three‑putts," Shin explained, noting that her second‑round score was almost identical to 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 began her round on the back nine, climbed into solo second place after birdieing holes 16 and 17 and then sealing an eagle on the par‑five third.

Her aggressive play moved her to six under after 36 holes. The cut was set at six over par. Charley Hull, after a disappointing 78 in the first round, found herself teetering on the cut line heading into the second round. She managed to steady her game, mixing four birdies with three bogeys to finish at one under par 71, securing her place for the weekend and sitting at five over after two rounds.

Hull’s compatriot and close friend Georgia Hall was not as fortunate. An opening round of ten over par left her in a deep hole, and a second‑day 14‑over total – the result of six bogeys and only two birdies – saw her miss the cut entirely. Defending champion Lottie Woad showed marked improvement on day two.

After a first‑round 2‑over, she overcame a shaky start that included a double bogey on the 12th. She responded with back‑to‑back birdies on holes 14 and 15, added a bogey on 16, and then birdied the 17th. "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." Woad’s turnaround continued as she made the turn at two over, then birdied holes three and five to bring herself back to even par. "I didn’t really make any putts, to be honest with you," she admitted. "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 entered the second round at even par but slipped to four over by its conclusion.

Starting on the back nine, Korda had been two under through the first six holes before a bogey on 16 and a double bogey on 17 derailed her momentum. She did manage a birdie on the fifth, but four consecutive bogeys to finish the round produced a 76 and left her four over par overall. Four‑time major champion and Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist also fell down the leaderboard.

After a solid first‑round 2‑under, she posted a seven‑over 79 on Friday, dropping to five over after two rounds. The tournament continues with round three slated to start at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf.

Fans can also stream the action via NOW, and the Sky Sports Golf Podcast provides additional analysis and commentary. For those wondering when live golf is available on Sky, the schedule lists the Women’s Scottish Open among its featured events.

As the competition progresses, the windy conditions at Dundonald Links remain a significant factor, testing players’ shot‑making, course management, and mental resilience. Shin’s ability to maintain a sizable lead under such circumstances will be a key storyline, while the likes of Woad, Hull and the other contenders will look to mount comebacks and climb the leaderboard in the remaining rounds.