Now, here is another chance for Ariya Jutanugarn to make her country proud. She birdied five of her last eight holes for an 8-under 64 and a share of the CP Women's Open lead on Thursday at rain-softened Wascana Country Club yesterday.

 

 

 

 

Nasa Hataoka and Mariajo Uribe joined the second-ranked Jutanugarn atop the leaderboard, with Canadian star Brooke Henderson and three-time champion Lydia Ko two strokes back.

 

 

With players allowed to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairways because of the damp conditions, Jutanugarn birdied the first four holes in the morning round and finished with nine birdies and a bogey in sunny, hot conditions.

 

 

"Today my goal was don't worry about the future too much," Jutanugarn said. "Don't think about what I'm going to shoot today. Just try to focus on things I can control."

 

 

 

 

The soft conditions didn't last long on the greens.

 

"It's pretty tough," Jutanugarn said. "It's getting more firm. It's very quick."

 

The Thai star won the event two years ago in Calgary. She's tied for the tour victory lead with three, winning the U.S. Women's Open, Kingsmill Championship and Ladies Scottish Open

 

 

Jutanugarn became the first player from Thailand to win the championship. The 22-year-old made a clutch bunker shot to within a foot of the hole to save par, beating Kim, who shot a five-under 67 in the final round to force the play-off.