World No. 1 Inbee Park poured in a field-high eight birdies yesterday to pull within two strokes of the lead at the halfway point of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia.
Park, in the middle of a stellar year, would have been clear of the field if not for three bogeys that left her with a five-under 66 for the day. She was at eight-under-par for the tournament.
“I made a lot of birdies, but it could have been better if I didn’t make the bogeys,” she said.
Photo: AP
Park said she would focus instead on her deft putting, calling it “something to take for the next two days.”
The seasoned South Korean has traded the world No. 1 ranking over the past year with New Zealand teen Lydia Ko in a fascinating rivalry at the pinnacle of the women’s game.
Park has won two majors this year — her July championship at the Women’s British Open gave her a total of seven majors and a career Grand Slam — and seized back the top spot in June.
Her compatriot Jang Ha-na topped the second-round leaderboard at 10-under after carding a 65 for the day at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. China’s Lin Xiyu shot a 68 to leave her in second at nine-under.
Joining Park at two shots off the lead were Taiwan’s Yani Tseng and the US’ Alison Lee.
Tseng recovered from a terrible start to shoot a three-under 68.
On a day with plenty of low scores, the former world No. 1 bogeyed two of her first three holes, when by her own account her tempo was a little off, but recovered with birdies on the sixth, eighth and 12th holes to get back in the hunt before bogeying the par-four 14th.
She then birdied three of her last four holes to catapult herself back up to near the top of the leaderboard.
“Everything is good. Putting is getting better, and then I finish with birdie [on three] out of like the last four holes. So it is always a good sign to make lots of birdies out there,” she said.
“Just feel very comfortable,” Tseng said. “Just very happy to be back in position, see my name on the first page of the leaderboard.”
Other Taiwanese in the field were Candie Kung in 14th, Hsu Wei-ling (37th) and Min Lee (61st).
Kung was on 137 overall after a second-round 68, Hsu’s 68 was five shots better than her first-round effort, while Lee hit a 74 for 146 overall.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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