Women’s Open second-round leaderboard

-8 N Korda (US); -5 C Hull (Eng), L Vu (US); -4 R Yin (Chn); -3 M Saigo (Jpn), C Alexander (SA), P-Y Chien (Tpe), A Buhai (SA), L Ko (NZ), L Rydqvist (Swe*)

Selected others: -2 L Woad (Eng*); -1 G Hall (Eng); E ; +1 L Maguire (Ire); +2 L Humphreys; +3 G Cowley (Eng); +7 C Matthew (Sco)

*denotes amateur

Full leaderboard

Nelly Korda has a three-shot lead after a blemish-free 68 in the second round of the Women’s Open at St Andrews.

The American is eight-under for the week with England’s Charley Hull – who led after round one – and defending champion Lilia Vu, also of the US, her closest challengers.

After birdies at five and nine, two-time major winner Korda also sunk long putts for gains on the 17th and 18th holes.

“I didn’t take advantage of the calmer conditions on my front nine [the back nine]. But I played some really solid golf, and I’m happy with that,” Korda said.

Meanwhile, Hull, who is seeking her first major title, followed up her 67 in round one with a level-par 72.

Runner-up in both the Women’s Open and Women’s US Open last year, Hull bogeyed the second but three birdies in five holes going into the turn took her to seven-under.

However, dropped shots at 10 and 14 leave her with work to do going into the weekend.

“I actually thought I hit it just as good as yesterday, I just missed three or four four-foot putts, but that was early on in my round,” said Hull.

“I’m only three shots behind. That’s nothing going into the weekend, especially on this golf course.”

Vu was two-under for the round, with three birdies and a solitary bogey on the 17th.

China’s Ruoning Yin birdied the last to edge ahead of a six-strong group on three-under and is fourth, four strokes off the lead.

Among the group tied for fifth on three-under is amateur Louise Rydqvist of Sweden, who produced one of the rounds of the day.

The 23-year-old hit five birdies, including three on the back nine, to surge up the leaderboard with a superb 67.

English amateur Lottie Woad remains within striking distance of the leaders on two-under, tied for 11th, after making four birdies in a second round of 70.

Her compatriot Georgia Hall is a further shot back on one-under.