South Korean rookie Jang Ha-na fired a seven-under 65 to leap four shots clear of the field after the second round of the season-opening LPGA Tour’s Coates Golf Championship on Thursday.
The 22-year-old Jang completed 36 holes at 12-under-par 132 in the event, which was suspended by darkness for the second straight day. Jang only qualified for the tournament on Saturday last week.
“I had very nice iron shots today,” said Jang, who has six victories on the South Korean Tour.
Jang’s best shot of the day was a 25-foot putt on the final hole of the round that curled into the cup for a birdie.
World No. 3 Stacy Lewis posted a two-under 70 and she is alone in second place at 8-under at the Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club.
Lewis got off to a slow start as she had five pars and a bogey through six holes. She caught fire in the middle part of her round.
“The greens are so tricky,” Lewis said. “There are not a lot of hole locations on a couple of the greens, so you have to hit it to the right spot. It is just a matter of staying patient.”
Lydia Ko, the second-ranked player in the world, shot three-under 69 to move into a share of third place.
She was joined there by Azahara Munoz (71) as well as Angela Stanford and Austin Ernst, who were still on the course when play was called for the day. Stanford completed 14 holes of her second round, while Ernst was through 13.
Jessica Korda, who shared the first-round lead with Lewis and Munoz, managed an even-par 72. Korda was tied for seventh place with Choi Na-yeon.
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling (70) and Paula Creamer, who had a hole-in-one on Thursday, are tied for 16th, while world No. 1 Inbee Park was tied for 45th.
Other Taiwanese playing were Min Lee, who was tied for 32nd on even par, and Candie Kung, on 3-over.
The first round was completed earlier on Thursday after being suspended by darkness on Wednesday evening. There was also a 90-minute frost delay on Thursday.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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