World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand delivered scorching shots backed by enthusiastic home fans. She carded an eagle and seven birdies without a bogey, shooting 9-under par.
But the hottest round belonged to someone else. The player who outshone the world's top-ranked golfer was none other than South Korea's Lee So-mi.
In the second round of the LPGA Tour Honda LPGA Thailand held at Siam Country Club Old Course (par 72) in Chonburi, Thailand on February 20, Lee carded an eagle and nine birdies for an 11-under-par 61, tying the course record.
Combined with her opening-round 6-under 66, Lee posted a 17-under 127 total, setting a new tournament 36-hole scoring record and claiming the top spot on the leaderboard. Thitikul sits alone in second place at 14-under 130, three shots back.
Kim Sei-young moved to tied for 27th at 6-under 138, while Ko Jin-young, who shot 5-under, sits tied for 33rd at 5-under 139 as she eyes a push toward the leaders.
Lee will compete in the final group during the third round alongside Thitikul and Japan's Iwai Chisato, who shot 10-under to move into a tie for third at 13-under 131.
Eagles and birdies poured in throughout the day, producing unusually low scores. Players recorded rounds of 61 and 62, while Thitikul and Lee Mi-hyang both shot 63. Four players including Ryu Hae-ran and Lydia Ko of New Zealand carded 64s. Seven players shot 65, including Kim Hyo-joo and Kim Sei-young.
Lydia Ko tied for third with Iwai Chisato, while Kim Hyo-joo and Lee Mi-hyang enter moving day tied for eighth at 11-under 133. Choi Hye-jin, who shared third place after round one, dropped to a tie for 13th at 8-under 136 after shooting just 2-under.
Yun Yi-na, who was tied for sixth after the opening round, was the only Korean player to shoot over par. After recording just two bogeys through 17 holes, Yun sank a 4-meter birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole to secure her spot in the third round. She dropped 35 positions from tied for sixth to tied for 41st at 4-under 140.
Ryu Hae-ran also went on a birdie tear. After making birdie on the 10th hole, her starting hole, Ryu parred eight consecutive holes before rattling off six straight birdies from holes 1 through 6 and adding an eighth birdie on the 8th hole. Ryu is tied for 13th at 8-under 136, alongside Choi Hye-jin.