Aditi closes with birdies on last two to make cut

Springfield: India’s Aditi Ashok produced a birdie-birdie finish in the second round to stay on for weekend action at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol here.

Aditi, who shot 75 in the first round, went back further as she was two-over through 16 holes in the second round with the cut looking likely at three-over or four-over.

Aditi, who is playing her 24th Major, birdied the two closing Par-5s and ensured action over the weekend. The cut ultimately fell at five-over and Aditi at three-over is tied-41st.

With just 18 holes remaining at the 54-hole event, Marina Alex and Leona Maguire ended the second round tied at the top of the leader board at -13, four strokes ahead of the pack.

For both Alex and Maguire, this is only the second time in both of their LPGA Tour careers that they have held or shared a lead after 36 holes. While Maguire is looking to become the season’s first Rolex First-Time Winner, Alex is looking for her first win since the 2018 Cambia Portland Classic.

Past U.S. Solheim Cup stars Stacy Lewis and Brittany Altomare are tied for third at -9 along with Linnea Johansson. Altomare and Lewis both recorded 5-under 67s, while Johansson posted a 69 after five birdies and two bogeys.

Florida’s own Lexi Thompson joins fellow major champions Jeongeun Lee6 and Patty Tavatanakit in a tie for sixth at -8.