Taiwan’s Teresa Lu shot a two-under 70 in the second round of the HSBC Women’s Champions tournament in Singapore yesterday to move into sole possession of third place at six-under for the tournament, three shots behind leader Karrie Webb of Australia.
Lu, a Japan LPGA Tour regular since giving up her LPGA Tour membership in 2010, showed she was plenty capable of competing against the LPGA’s best, with 49 of the 50 top LPGA money winners playing in the US$1.4 million Singapore event.
She got off to an uneven start yesterday, bogeying the first hole, birdieing the second and double-bogeying the par-four third, but then played the last 15 holes in four-under, including an eagle on the par-five 18th.
Photo: AFP
“It was pretty windy today, making the conditions tougher to play in than yesterday,” Lu said. “After making the double-bogey on the third hole, I was trying to get the shots back with some birdies and fortunately I got an eagle on the last hole. Overall, I think I played pretty well.”
The 26-year-old Lu was tied for fourth after the first round with a 68 and now trails only Webb and the US’ Angela Stanford, who is one shot ahead of Lu after shooting a second-round 69.
Five other players are tied for fourth at four-under for the tournament.
Photo: AFP
Taiwan’s better known LPGA star Yani Tseng, hoping to follow up a top-10 finish last week in Thailand, finished the day tied for 22nd at even-par for her first two rounds.
After shooting a one-over 73 on Thursday, Tseng also got off to a poor start yesterday, bogeying three of her first six holes, but then steadied herself and carded four birdies against just one bogey on the back nine for a round of 71.
“I got my feel for my putter back today and my irons gave me more chances at birdie,” Tseng said. “I was in better form today than yesterday and mentally I was more resilient.”
Taiwan’s Candie Kung was tied for 39th at three-over at the midpoint of the US$1.4 million tournament.
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