Taiwan golden girl Yani Tseng powered to a share of the lead with South Korea’s Choi Na-yeon at the wind-swept USLPGA Hana Bank Kolon Championship yesterday.
Tseng, who burst onto the scene last year by becoming the first rookie to win a women’s major since South Korea’s Pak Se-ri in 1998, stroked a two-under-par 70 for a two-round total of 139.
Choi is alongside her, but overnight leaders Anna Grzebien and Meaghan Francella fell off the pace, as did world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who is floundering 10 shots behind after an uncharacteristic 79.
The conditions were tough with howling winds and rain that forced the players off for 80 minutes.
Tseng, who finished her round before play was suspended, was happy to be in the lead.
“Yes, I thought I played okay today. It was tough conditions for most of the day, and it was really windy. I am happy I am leader right now, but Sunday I hope I can try to play better,” Tseng said.
■SINGAPORE OPEN
AFP, SINGAPORE
Ian Poulter blew a commanding five-shot advantage yesterday to share the third round clubhouse lead with Thomas Levet and Kodai Ichihara at the Singapore Open.
The flamboyant Englishman played 15 holes yesterday morning to conclude his second round and was on fire with a sizzling 64, opening up a huge lead from Sweden’s Daniel Chopra and Taiwanese qualifier Chan Yih-shin.
But Poulter’s touch deserted him when he came back out for his third round, dropping four shots in the six holes he played before a lightning storm ended play early, with no-one yet finished.
As Poulter was struggling, Frenchman Levet and Japan’s Ichihara were picking up shots.
All three are eight under for the tournament, with Australia’s Andrew Dodt and China’s Liang Wenchong a shot further back in a share of fourth.
Chan shot a 68 for a spot at seven under, while compatriot Lin Wen-tang was at three under after a mediocre 70.
■WORLD MATCH PLAY
AFP, CASARES, SPAIN
American Anthony Kim set up a rematch with Australian Robert Allenby and England’s Ross Fisher a meeting with Masters Tournament champion Angel Cabrera in the semi-finals of the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Casares, Spain, on Friday.
Kim eagled the 18th to beat Scott Strange and set up a clash with Allenby three weeks after a controversial Presidents Cup tie in which the Australian made late-night drinking allegations about his 24-year-old opponent.
Allenby has since apologized and the pair have spoken, but the controversy was set to pave the way for an interesting encounter yesterday.
After two wins on the opening day, Kim had to be beaten by four holes by Strange not to progress.
And he produced one of the shots of his life, a 274-yard three-wood to four feet on the final hole, in his Group A to deny tournament outsider Strange a last four spot.
Kim, who won his first two games, was four down to the Australian after 17 holes and would have gone out by a single hole, but Strange only parred the last, leaving the way clear for the American.
Allenby, meanwhile, beat England’s Oliver Wilson by two holes in Group B to seal his semi-final spot. Fisher beat India’s Jeev Milkha Singh to top his Group D in the new format and so made it to the last four. In Group C, Cabrera progressed with ease.
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