Thitikul Jeeno storms to the top as Lauren Walsh misses cut

Thailand's Thitikul Jeeno posted a stunning 64 to take control of the PIF Saudi Ladies International as Lauren Walsh missed the cut.

Jeeno – who has posted top-10 finishes in all five Majors in recent seasons – posted nine magnificent birdies and just a sole bogey to move to 13-under-par, three shots clear of England’s Annabell Fuller and Korea’s Somi Lee, who had led after the first round, heading into the final day of the three-rount event.

Walsh had started with a level-par 72, but she was unable to make it inside the cut-line with a 73 leaving her on one-over par for the tournament, three shots off a spot in the finale.

Walsh was carrying good form into Saudi Arbaia after her top-five finish at the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco last time out, but wasn’t able to build any momentum.

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Playing in a foursome alongside Jeeno, Walsh made a terrible start to her round with a double-bogey at the first before rattling off 12 straight pars.

Back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 15th raised hopes of a strong finish to save her, but those were all but extinguished with a bogey at the next.