Jeeno Thitikul turned a friendly shift in the weather into a golden opportunity Friday, closing with four birdies over her final seven holes to seize a commanding three-shot lead at the Mizuho Americas Open in West Caldwell, New Jersey.
The morning starters faced a stern test at Mountain Ridge Country Club, where firm greens and thick rough made par a prized possession. Jennifer Kupcho navigated the challenge well, posting a 69 that included a clutch 15-foot par save on the 18th hole—a par-4 playing more than a stroke over par for the early wave.
Thitikul, meanwhile, had a slow start of her own, failing to make a birdie until her eighth hole. But then the weather gods smiled. A passing rain shower softened the course, and the wind that had been a factor on the front nine simply vanished.
"Luckily we don't have much wind on the back nine after the rain came," Thitikul said. "If we got the breeze like on the front nine, I don't think my number is going to be that low, for sure."
The Thai star sits at 8-under 136 heading into the weekend, chasing her first win of the year. It would be a statement victory, coming after she lost her world No. 1 ranking to Nelly Korda—who is sitting out this week.
Just how tough were the early conditions? Lydia Ko, one of the game's steadiest players, shot a 75 and admitted she wasn't too upset about it.
"Probably one of the rare occasions where you shoot 75 and you're not stressing out too much," Ko said. "The greens are pretty undulating. You leave yourself in some positions above the hole and you don't even know if you can hold it on the green."
The day wasn't as kind to first-round leader Andrea Lee, who opened with a 66 but saw her game unravel with five bogeys in a six-hole stretch on the front nine. She didn't record a birdie until the 16th hole, signing for a 79 that sent her tumbling down the leaderboard.
Kupcho, known for her serious demeanor on the course, kept her cool through the ups and downs. After a bogey on the par-5 17th, she faced a tricky approach on 18 with the pin tucked over a bunker. She found the sand, splashed out to 15 feet, and calmly rolled in the par putt to stay within striking distance.
With the weekend ahead and more changeable weather in the forecast, Thitikul knows she'll need to stay sharp. But for now, the former world No. 1 is right where she wants to be—in the lead and playing with confidence.