Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung was worn out after another difficult day at wind-battered and sun-baked Jian Lake Blue Bay.
“As far as tomorrow, I would like just to simply survive the day,” Kung said.
It has been so tough in the Blue Bay LPGA that the 34-year-old Taiwanese and South Korea’s Kim Sei-young yesterday topped the leaderboard at even-par.
Photo: AFP
Only two of the 78 players broke 70 and there were 11 rounds in the 80s. The players averaged 76.282 to push the three-day mark to 75.733. With more wind and possibly rain today, the tournament could be the first with an over-par winner since Birdie Kim won the 2005 US Women’s Open at three-over at Cherry Hills in Colorado.
“If you can really get close to even par, you can probably win it,” Kung said.
Kung bogeyed the final two holes for a one-over 73, while playing partner Kim shot a 74.
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling had the best round, a four-under 68 to jump from a tie for 42nd into the tie for eighth. Playing the back nine first, she had six birdies in a 30, then played her second nine in two-over with three bogeys and a birdie.
The other two Taiwanese in the field are Yani Tseng and Min Lee. Tseng shot a 73 to move to 225 overall and a share of 35th, while Lee was in a share of 51st after a 71 put her on 229.
The wind makes it hard for players to hit into good positions on the large, undulating greens, with their firmness making it even more difficult.
“This is probably one of the hardest courses I’ve ever seen,” Kung said. “The course itself is full of slopes and sometimes it really feels like you’re taking a roller-coaster ride.”
Third-ranked Stacy Lewis was third at one-over. The American bogeyed the par-five 18th for a 73.
“I think the weather is going to be even worse tomorrow, so it’s really more of a mental test than anything,” Lewis said. “It’s not even really patience. It’s accepting what the golf course gives you.”
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