Miyu Yamashita Leads at AIG Women's Open as Australians Battle to Advance

Japanese golfer Miyu Yamashita maintains her lead at the AIG Women's Open, sitting comfortably at 11-under par and extending her advantage to three strokes after Round 2. The 22-year-old showcased exceptional skill early in the day, firing a 7-under 65 amidst challenging windy conditions at Royal Porthcawl. Meanwhile, Australian competitors faced the elements with mixed results; only Steph Kyriacou, Grace Kim, and Minjee Lee managed to advance past the halfway cut. Kyriacou, a two-time Ladies European Tour winner, made headlines with a remarkable hole-in-one at the eighth hole, followed by a birdie at the ninth, to turn at 3-under. Despite a rollercoaster back nine with several bogeys, she finished the day at 2-over, securing her spot in the weekend competition with a spectacular eagle on the 18th, which she described as a fortunate finish. Grace Kim also navigated a tough round, overcoming bogeys on the 10th, 15th, and 16th holes with a crucial birdie on the 13th and an eagle on the final hole, finishing at 2-over and qualifying for the weekend. Minjee Lee faced difficulties on her back nine, ending the day with a 76 after a series of bogeys, and narrowly missing the cut. As th...