Lottie Woad and Charley Hull are five strokes behind Haeran Ryu, who has taken the lead at the halfway point of the AIG Women's Open. Ryu, seeking to become the first player since Inbee Park to win three consecutive majors, recovered from a difficult start to post a two-under 69 at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The world No 3 now stands at seven under, one stroke ahead of Japan's Shiho Kuwaki, who had set the early clubhouse lead with a second-round 70. Overnight leader Jeeno Thitikul and American Solheim Cup hopeful Yealimi Noh are a further stroke back. Woad and Hull both carded level-par 71s, with Woad bogeying two of her last five holes and Hull producing a mixed round. World No 1 Nelly Korda remains in contention after a second-round 68 lifted her to one under, while defending champion Miyu Yamashita missed the cut.
Hull, who had only three hours' sleep before her round, made an early move with birdies at the sixth and eighth but dropped shots at the 10th and 15th. A brilliant chip-in birdie at the 17th rekindled her hopes of a major breakthrough. Korda, seeking a third major win of the season, improved with a 68, and Ryu enhanced her chances of becoming the fifth player in history to win three consecutive majors with a 15-foot birdie at the last. Team Europe's eight automatic Solheim Cup qualifiers will be confirmed on Sunday, with captain Anna Nordqvist to name her picks on Monday.