Taiwan’s Yani Tseng took an early four-stroke lead in the second round of the Women’s British Open after shooting a second consecutive four-under 68 at Royal Birkdale.
Tseng, who had five birdies and a bogey, was at eight-under 136 yesterday.
Cristie Kerr shot a five-under 67 to move to four-under overall. She was tied with fellow American Brittany Lincicome and South Korea’s Amy Yang.
PHOTO: AFP
Sweden’s Suzann Pettersen shot a 68 to move to three-under, despite failing to take advantage of birdie chances on the three closing par-fives. Also at three-under was South Korea’s Yoo Sun-young, who added a second-round 72 to her opening 69.
On Thursday in the first round, Tseng and Australian Katherine Hull posted four-under 68s to lead by a stroke.
Tseng, twice a major winner in this year’s Kraft Nabisco Championship and the LPGA Championship in 2008, staked her claim to a third with her bogey-free display, finishing with birdie-eagle.
“I played really, really solid. I hit all greens but one today and I putted pretty well,” Tseng said. “I still missed a lot, but I two-putted the 17th for birdie from 40 yards and made eagle at the last from six yards. The last two par-fives were just like long par-fours with the wind, so I stayed relaxed and tried to make birdies. It was pretty good.”
Hull, who was in one of the late groups out, eagled the 18th in front of the deserted stands to join Tseng at four-under.
She dropped a stroke at the fourth, had birdies at the seventh, ninth and 10th, and then her closing eagle to trim three strokes off par on the way home.
“I hit a drive and a hybrid onto the last green and holed from 60 feet, a great way to finish,” Hull said. “I had a long talk with my caddie last week and unearthed a secret to improve my game. I had become lazy with my routine and the improvement made all the difference today.”
Tseng made just one birdie on the front nine to be out in 34 and then parred all the way to the 17th, before her spectacular finish.
Taiwan’s other contenders did not have such a good day. Amy Hung and Candie Kung both shot three-over 75s, while Teresa Lu carded a six-over 78.
Trailing the leaders were Anne-Lise Caudal of France, who posted the first 69 of the day. She was followed by Yang and Yoo, along with Lincicome.
Caudal, who won the Portuguese Open on the European Tour in 2008, dropped her only stroke at the first, but then notched four birdies.
“I’ve never played links golf before, only two practice rounds this week, but I played really well today,” Claudal said.
Yang was next in the clubhouse on 69, with one bogey and four birdies.
Lincicome went on more of a roller-coaster ride, picking up six birdies after dropping three strokes in the first two holes.
“I putted really well after four putting the first for double-bogey,” Lincicome said.
Fellow American Michelle Wie shared seventh place on 70 with Kim In-kyung of South Korea.
“I felt good all the way round today,” Wie said. “I hit some good putts, they just didn’t go in until at the end.”
Earlier, Julie Inkster had taken the clubhouse lead with a 71 and was soon joined on one-under by Shin Ji-yai, the South Korean winner of the Evian Masters last weekend.
England’s Laura Davies shot a level-par 72.
“You need to know how to get the ball round this hard golf course in tough conditions,” Davies said. “Experience counts for a lot in this sort of championship.”
Defending champion Catriona Matthew had a three-over 75, while US Open champion Paula Creamer shot a 74. LPGA champion Cristie Kerr went one better after a 73.
Additional reporting by Staff Writer
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