South Korea’s Kim In-kyung fired a bogey-free 69 yesterday to take a lead by a shot after the second round of the USLPGA Hana Bank Kolon Championship yesterday.
Kim closed out her round with a birdie on the par-four 18th, after sticking her six-iron to within five feet, putting her on five-under for the tournament.
Kim, 20, was one of only five players to birdie the 403-yard finishing hole yesterday.
Han Hee-won and Karen Stupples are one shot behind the leader.
Han, the 2001 USLPGA Rookie of the Year who also shot a bogey-free 69, said her shots had been terrible in practice rounds earlier in the week, but she recovered in time to get into contention.
Christina Kim of the US, whose parents were born in South Korea, is seeking her first victory since 2005. She is among five golfers at three-under.
■ISKANDAR JOHOR OPEN
AFP, JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA
Sweden’s Niclas Fasth produced a grandstand finish to snatch a one-shot lead from Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant after the third round of the Iskandar Johor Open yesterday.
The former Ryder Cup star shot three closing birdies to card a two-under 70 on a tough day at Royal Johor Country Club, putting himself in pole position in the US$500,000 Asian Tour event.
Joint halfway leader Mitchell Brown of Australia overcame a scrappy start, before settling for a 72 to lie two back, while Malaysia’s Iain Steel raised local cheers with a battling 70 for tied fourth place. Kane Webber of Australia also carded a 70.
Lurking behind was two-time Major champion Retief Goosen, who will enter the last round four off the pace after adding a second successive 69 for tied sixth place with Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand (73), and Richard Moir (70) and Adam Groom of Australia (69).
■SUZHOU TAIHU OPEN
AFP, SUZHOU, CHINA
China’s Ye Liying extended her lead in the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open after hitting a bogey-free four-under 68 in wet conditions during the second round yesterday.
Liying’s two-day total of 11-under 133 puts her five strokes ahead of South Korea’s Han Min-jee and Annika Sorenstam.
Both Min-jee and Sorenstam finished with a three-under 69.
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