World No. 1 Yani Tseng staged an impressive comeback on the second day of the Honda LPGA Thailand tournament yesterday before thunderstorms cut short play.
After her disappointing one-over 73 on the opening day, the Taiwanese defending champion sparkled with a seven-under 65 to get back in the running in joint seventh place with an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.
“In the first round I felt so sad about the way I had played and really disappointed. I was even crying, but today I feel great,” she said.
Photo: AFP
Tseng could not fully explain why she played so much better in the second round which saw an improvement by eight strokes.
“I think I was more focused and my putting was much better,” she said. “I had a good massage last night — that may have helped. I told my caddie that I felt I could go out and hit seven-under, and that’s what I did.”
Meanwhile, Tseng’s compatriots Candie Kung and Amy Hung did not fare as well. Kung followed up her opening-round 71 with a one-over 73 to finish the day with a two-round total of even-par 144. Hung holed four bogeys and one birdie for a round of three-over 75 to finish with a two-round total of three-over 147.
Australia’s Karrie Webb moved to the top of the leaderboard on 10-under for the tournament with four holes to go when play was suspended for the day.
The Australian’s incomplete round at the Siam Country Club’s Pattaya Old Course included a hole-in-one at the 12th.
“I didn’t see it go in, but I heard the crowd roar,” a delighted Webb said.
The clubhouse leader when play was suspended was South Korea’s Shin Ji-yai on eight-under after shooting a 66. Compatriot Amy Yang was also on eight-under, but with four holes to play.
Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall was a further shot behind on 65, along with Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and South Korea’s Choi Na-yeon, who still had four holes to play.
Overnight leader Ai Miyazato from Japan was on six-under in joint seventh place, with five holes left.
With just 70 players in the tournament there is no halfway cut, so there is still an opportunity for those lower down the field to work their way into contention.
Additional reporting by Staff writer
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