The US’ Jessica Korda rebounded from an opening double-bogey for a share of the second-round lead yesterday in the Blue Bay LPGA.
Korda made seven birdies in a 14-hole stretch — the last three on Nos. 14-16 — and shot a five-under 67 to match South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace at 11-under 133 at Jian Lake Blue Bay. Pace had seven birdies and a bogey in a 66.
After rain washed out play on Friday and forced tour officials to cut the event from 72 to 54 holes, the start of play yesterday was delayed again.
Korda, the first-round leader on Thursday after a 66, won the season-opening event in the Bahamas in January and took the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic in May in Alabama.
Pace, winless on the LPGA Tour, is coming off a playoff victory last week in the Ladies European Tour’s South African Women’s Open.
South Korea’s Chella Choi was 10-under after a 66.
US pair Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang closed with birdies to join China’s Shanshan Feng at nine under. They shot 68.
Wie is making her second start since withdrawing from the Evian Championship last month after reinjuring a stress reaction in her right hand.
Feng won the LPGA Malaysia two weeks ago for her fourth LPGA Tour title and is seeking her second victory in China after winning the Reignwood LPGA last year in Beijing.
The tournament is the fourth stop on the six-tournament Asian Swing.
The LPGA Taiwan Championship is next week, followed by the Mizuno Classic in Japan.
Asia-Pacific Amateur
AP, MELBOURNE, Australia
Antonio Murdaca shot a five-under 67 yesterday to open a commanding eight-shot lead heading into the final round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Golf Championship.
The 19-year-old Australian took a one-shot lead into the third round after shooting 69 and 68 as the only player in the tournament to break 70 in the first two rounds. He hit every fairway yesterday on the way to the day’s low score over the 6,453m Royal Melbourne Golf Club layout.
Cheng Jin of China is in second place at four-under, with Australia’s Todd Sinnott and Pan Cheng-tsung of Taiwan. Horikawa Mikumu of Japan matched Murdaca’s 67 to move into a share of third place at three-under.
Murdaca’s round was blemished only by a bogey at the par-four 11th. He had four birdies before and an eagle at the par-five 17th.
“I was feeling good. I went out today and just tried to do what I did yesterday ... hit one shot at a time, just try to hit some solid shots,” he said. “I pulled that off so I’m happy with my round today.”
Murdaca is now poised to become the first Australian to win the Asia-Pacific tournament and, as this year’s winner, an invitation spot at next year’s US Masters and an exemption into the final stage of qualifying for the British Open.
Pan shot a one-under 71 yesterday, with four birdies and three bogeys, while Cheng had an even-par 72 and Sinnott a two-over 74 after three bogeys on his outward nine.
Murdaca played what may have been the shot of the tournament when his 220m approach to the 17th nudged the lip of the hole and almost dropped for an albatross.
“I just hit a little fade 4-iron,” he said. “It hit the target. I didn’t quite catch it and hit it a little bit short, but it released nicely and it gave me a good chance for eagle there.”
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