Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul showed why she's the player to beat at the LPGA Mizuho Americas Open, firing a three-under-par 69 on Friday to build a commanding three-shot lead. The world No. 2 from Thailand capitalized on a weather shift as gusty winds subsided late in the day, finishing with a 36-hole total of eight-under 136 at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey.

The chilly, blustery conditions made the speedy, undulating greens a nightmare for much of the round, but Jeeno timed her surge perfectly. "I didn't do well when the wind was really picking up in the beginning," she admitted. "Luckily we didn't have much wind on the back nine. After the rain came, the wind just shut down. If we had the breeze from the front nine, I don't think my number would be that low."

Starting on the back nine, Jeeno battled through two bogeys and a birdie before finding her rhythm. She turned it on after the turn, seizing the solo lead with back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth holes, then adding two more strokes at the sixth and eighth. "I just hit it good, too," she said with a smile. "I made two long putts and hit it well on the par-three, then birdied two par-fives by reaching the greens."

Hot on her heels is American Jennifer Kupcho, who also carded a 69 to sit at five-under 139. Kupcho's round was nearly a mirror image of Jeeno's—she teed off early with five birdies in her first 13 holes before late bogeys slowed her momentum. "Early this morning, there was definitely a lot less wind, hardly any at all," said Kupcho, a four-time LPGA winner and major champion at the 2022 Chevron Championship. "Once the wind kicked up, you had to be careful not to run putts off the green. The greens are really fast—you just have to think about what you're doing. It's a really hard golf course."

With the leaderboard tightening and more unpredictable weather expected, all eyes will be on Jeeno as she looks to defend her title from last year's victory at Liberty National. Can she hold off the field and add another trophy to her collection? Stay tuned for more action from the Mizuho Americas Open.