Matthew storms into British Open contention with flawless 65 at Woburn

Golf: Scot comes to fore in Women’s British Open at Woburn after one of her best rounds

Scotland’s Catriona Matthew catapulted herself up the leaderboard at the Ricoh Women’s British Open with a flawless 65 at Woburn.

The seven-under-par round moved the 2009 champion to within two strokes of Mirim Lee.

Matthew, who will represent Team GB at the Rio Olympics, said: “That’s probably one of the best rounds I’ve played. I think I hit 18 greens. I gave myself a lot of chances and holed my fair share of them.

“If I can get in there in contention on Sunday I’m sure it will be a fantastic atmosphere. The crowd were great today.”

Lee saw her advantage at the top slashed to a single shot despite carding a one-under-par 71 in her second round.

The South Korean followed up her opening 62 – which equalled the lowest round in the competition’s history – with three birdies and two bogeys yesterday.

That moved Lee to 11 under par overall, a score good enough for the outright lead at the halfway stage, but China’s Shanshan Feng and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn are breathing down her neck.

Lee, who held a three-stroke advantage overnight, told the Ladies European Tour website: “I felt a little bit of nervousness, but after a couple of holes I forgot about it.

“I think a little bit of nervousness is what makes you play well.”

The world No 31 made a tentative start, but settled into her stride with birdies on the fourth and seventh.

She added another on the 15th, but bogeys at the 13th and 17th holes dropped her back.

Jutanugarn was the closest challenger to Lee overnight and cut the deficit with a round of 69, while Feng sits alongside her on 10 under par overall after carding 68.

Charley Hull, a member at Woburn, remains in contention ahead of the weekend, largely thanks to making five birdies in six holes in a round of 70. The 20-year-old is six shots adrift of the lead.

“It’s definitely good being in a good position going into the weekend,” she said.

That’s probably one of the best rounds I’ve played. CATRIONA MATTHEW

Picture: PA. Catriona Matthew is just two shots off the lead in the Ricoh Women’s British Open.