Lottie Woad fired an excellent round of 64 (-7) to claim top spot on 11-under-par at the halfway stage of the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship.
The English world number four began the day in a share of eighth place, four strokes behind overnight leader Aki Iwai in France.
Related: Aki Iwai finds an early rising in Evian Resort
Two-time LET winner Woad rolled in her first birdie of the day on the third before adding further birdies on seven and nine at Evian Resort Golf Club.
The 22-year-old dropped her only shot of the day on the 10th but bounced back with three birdies on the trot on holes 11 to 13.
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Another birdie on 15 saw her Woad go into a share of the lead before her birdie on 18 put her in the outright lead on 11-under-par at the 36-hole mark.
“I hit a lot of fairways and greens, which is definitely the key around here. If you get in trouble off the tee, it can be pretty difficult, so I’ve just been trying to hit my lines and know how important that is,” said Woad.
“I just made a few more putts today really. I’ve got some nice memories from last year here and I like the golf course, so that definitely helps. The driver is clicking, I’ve been very good off the tee. If you do that you can have a lot of wedges and chances.
“I’ve got slightly better in all areas. Just mentally in these positions a bit more, so I’m a little calmer under pressure. I do look at leaderboards, but there isn’t that many out there. It helps me know what I need to do.”
Japan’s Aki Iwai, who led by two strokes overnight, teed it up in the afternoon wave in France and made early birdies on the 11th, 12th and 15th holes before dropping a shot on 17.
Iwai then made another birdie on the first before nearly acing the second leaving herself a tap-in birdie.
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However, the LPGA Tour winner made a double bogey on the sixth to drop back to 10-under-par and sit in solo second place.
“I gave myself many birdie chances today, I got five birdies and then my swing was smooth. It was pretty good. I had good communication with my caddie on the course, we were talking good,” said Iwai.
Korea’s Haeran Ryu and Japan’s Mao Saigo share third place on eight-under-par after they both produced rounds of 68 (-3) on day two.
Ryu, who won the 2026 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, had an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys on her scorecard.
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“On hole 15 I got an eagle there, so I hit driver little right side in the rough, but it’s not too much sticky rough,” said Ryu. “I was just trying to get it up there, but it was slightly short and a pretty good shot. From the front of the green I try to putt, I thought it was so firm, so I was surprised it went in the hole.
“It was little bit different because it was a bit more hot than yesterday, so that’s why the green is a little firm, but the speed is a little slower than yesterday. I missed a lot of chances. Hopefully, tomorrow I make it a little bit better than today.”
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