Ji Eun-hee yesterday took a one-stroke lead over Lydia Ko in the LPGA Taiwan Championship, overcoming back pain and a double-bogey in windy and rainy conditions.
The 29-year-old South Korean finished with a three-under 69 to reach nine-under 135 at the Miramar Golf and Country Club in Linkou, New Taipei City. She made the double-bogey on the par-five sixth after hooking her drive out of bounds, rallied with birdies on Nos. 9 through 11 and closed with seven straight pars.
“I hurt my middle back this morning,” Ji said. “Just bothering me on my swing and especially with my driver.”
Photo: Chen Chih-chu
The second-ranked Ko birdied the par-five 18th for a 67.
“It’s always good to finish on a birdie,” Ko said. “I’ve just got to keep my head high. Especially with the weather conditions, anything can happen.”
The 18-year-old New Zealander is trying to regain the No. 1 spot in the world from South Korea’s Inbee Park, the winner last year at Miramar.
Photo: Chen Chih-chu
Park is skipping her title defense to play in a South Korean LPGA event, where she dropped into a tie for seventh yesterday.
Ko won the Evian Championship in France last month to become the youngest major champion and has three other LPGA Tour victories this year. She won the 2013 Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters at Miramar for her first victory as a professional.
Ji won the 2008 LPGA Championship and 2009 US Women’s Open, both majors, for her lone LPGA Tour titles.
“The weather is going to be like this tomorrow and the day after, so trying to be patient every day and just focus on my play,” Ji said. “The greens are going to be softer, so that makes a little easier, actually.”
England’s Charley Hull and China’s Lin Xi-yu, both 19, were tied for third at seven-under. Hull shot a 69, while Lin had a 70. Hull saved par on 16 and bogey on 17 with five-foot putts, then missed a five-footer for birdie on 18.
“A shame I didn’t birdie the last, bogeyed 17, but I was plugged in the bunker on 17 and I made a good up-and-down, so it wasn’t too bad,” Hull said.
She said she feels right at home in the tough conditions.
“I quite like it like this. It’s been fun,” Hull said. “It’s a bit rainy, so it’s a bit like a [women’s] British Open, but obviously a lot warmer... I just love playing in the wind.”
South Koreans Ryu So-yeon (69) and Yoo Sun-young (71) were five-under. Norway’s Suzann Pettersen followed her opening 74 with a 66 — the best round of the day — to move into a tie for seventh at four-under. She won the event in 2012 and 2013 at the Sunrise Golf & Country Club in Taoyuan.
American Morgan Pressel and Germany’s Sandra Gal, tied for third after opening rounds of 68, dropped off the leaderboard. Pressel had a 75 to fall into a tie for 16th at one-under, while Gal was tied for 36th at two-over after a 78.
Chang Ya-chun was the best-placed of the 20 Taiwanese in the field with a second-round 69 taking her to two-under 142.
Taiwanese star Yani Tseng was tied for 32nd at one-over after a 73. She won the inaugural event in 2011 at Sunrise.
Others in the top 50 were Tsai Pei-ying (144 overall), Hsu Wei-ling (147) and Hsieh Yu-ling (147).
Additional reporting by staff writer
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and