Lottie Woad’s pro career is off to a cracking start as the Englishwoman leads by two at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Woad played alongside Nelly Korda and compatriot Charley Hull in the first two rounds and will spend Saturday with World No. 1 Korda as well.
Woad’s bogey-free 7-under 65 puts her at 12 under for the tournament. Korda and Nanna Koerstz-Madsen, who both shot 66 on Friday, are knotted at 10 under at Dundonald Links.
“The first nine was a little bit more windy and the back nine calmed down a bit which was nice; could really attack some of the pins,” said Woad, who has made only one bogey in her first 36 holes.
It’s been a remarkable stretch for Woad, who became the first LPGA player to graduate from the LEAP program and earn her card. Immediately after winning the Irish Open on the LET, she missed out on a playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship by one shot. Woad turned pro last week, forgoing her final season at Florida State.
“I’m sure there’s quite a bit of pressure on her shoulders but hopefully she’s surrounding herself with some good people,” said another former top-ranked amateur, Leona Maguire.
“You saw with Rose Zhang a couple years ago, she got off to a very hot start, too. There will be a lot of new things for her the next few weeks and months but I’m sure she’s well able to handle it.”
Zhang, of course, won in her professional debut at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open to earn her LPGA card.
Meanwhile, after winning seven times in 2024, Korda has yet to win this season.
“I started out strong with two birdies on my first two holes,” said Korda, who is making her Scottish Open debut, “Then the wind kind of died down throughout the day, so capitalized on the weather.”
Recent Evian winner Grace Kim was among those who missed the cut with rounds of 73 and 76.
After an opening 66 gave Charlotte Laffar a share of the lead, the Englishwoman missed the cut after a second-round 82. Laffar, 32, returned to the LET in May after taking four years off to have her sons, Freddie and Oscar. She had her husband, David, on the bag.
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