US Open champion Ryu So-yeon shot an 11-under 61 yesterday to take a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the Australian Ladies Masters.
Ryu, who had 12 birdies and a bogey at Royal Pines, had a two-round total of 17-under 127 after an opening 66.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung followed up her first-round 71 with a two-under 70 to finish the day tied for 33rd at three-under 141.
Photo: EPA
The South Korean’s score would have tied the course record held by seven-time Masters champion Karrie Webb, but it will not go in the books because of the lift, clean and place rule in effect on the fairways because of the wet course.
Before yesterday, Ryu marked her balls with “62” to represent her career-low round. Now she will be remarking them.
“Finally I can change the number,” Ryu said.
Christel Boeljon finished birdie-birdie-eagle to shoot a 65, putting her in second place. The Dutchwoman’s three on the par-five 18th came from a 50-foot putt.
First-round leader Lee Bo-mee (69) and Nikki Campbell (67) were tied for third, seven strokes behind Ryu. Diana Luna and Amelia Lewis each shot 64s for fifth place along with Felicity Johnson (68), eight strokes behind.
Earlier yesterday, three players were disqualified for unknowingly breaching rules on the preferred lies.
A rules official from the co-sanctioning Ladies European Tour said Corie Hou, Lim In-hong and amateur Annie Choi were disqualified after playing one hole of their second round.
The players, who were in the same group, said they had misinterpreted a local ruling during their first round which allowed preferred lies on fairways, but not in the rough.
Choi had an opening-round two-under 70, five strokes behind first-round leader Lee. Lim shot 80 and Hou had an 81.
The 16-year-old Choi said they had misunderstood what the starter said before they teed off.
“I’m devastated, but I accept it,” said Choi, who said the group had been told the preferred lies were in place “everywhere” and took that to include the rough.
The threesome had played only one hole of their second round when the rule breach was reported to Ladies European Tour operations director Cyprien Comoy.
All three admitted to taking preferred lies off the fairways in the first round and were disqualified because it meant they had signed incorrect scorecards.
“It was a surprise to them, certainly,” Comoy said. “The girls accepted the decision. It is not a pleasant thing, but a harsh lesson learned. We accept it was a genuine mistake.”
Additional reporting by Staff writer
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