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Taiwan's Yu shares the lead in Morelia

Taiwanese golfer Yu Ping-lin tees off during the second round of the Corona Championship in Morelia, Mexico, on Friday. PHOTO: EPA

Taiwan's Yu Ping-lin (65) shared the lead with Italy's Silvia Cavalleri (68) and Angela Park, a Brazilian of KorHean heritage (65) at 9-under 137 at the Corona Championship on Friday.

As gusty winds blew newly installed world No. 1 and defending champion Lorena Ochoa off course, LPGA rookie Park made her move. She fired a career-best 8-under-par 65 to move into a three-way tie for first place in the second round of the US$1.3 million tournament.

Yu, who missed the cut in her three previous starts, carded eight birdies during a bogey-free round.

"It feels great," she said. "I haven't had eight birdies in one round for a while. Yesterday, I had a lot of birdie chances, but I wasn't putting well. Today, the putts were going in."

Park said she was delighted to find herself atop the leaderboard on her first visit to Morelia.

"I didn't expect much," she said. "Every tournament I come out and try to do my best. I knew low scores were a possibility. Short irons into the greens are important, which are the strong part of my game. I was confident coming out, but wanted to get adjusted to the altitude and hills. I got in Saturday and played a couple times, so it was a little advantage."

Ochoa, hoping to reward her adoring home fans with a victory this week -- which would also celebrate her ascent to the world No. 1 spot long held by Annika Sorenstam -- carded a 1-over 74 at the windy Tres Marias course and fell into a tie for 16th.

The reigning Player of Year had started the day one shot off the lead.

"It's always tougher playing in the afternoon," Ochoa said. "I said yesterday 2-or 3-under would be a great score and I was fine at the turn, I had more troubles on the second nine holes. I don't blame the wind, because I play well in the wind."

"I lost confidence in the end, but I'm still in the tournament and now it's time to become more aggressive to try to get into the final group on Sunday," she said.

British-born South Korean Sarah Lee was a shot off the lead after matching an LPGA Tour record for nine holes with a 6-under 28 on the front nine -- her final nine.

Posting an eagle on the par-five eighth, she finished with a 66.

Making just her seventh career start, Park finished with a flourish, with birdies on her final five holes and six of her last seven.
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