Yani Tseng posted a two-under 70
Saturday and shares the lead with Na Yeon Choi after two rounds of the Hana
Bank - KOLON Championship.
Choi posted a one-under 71 in round two. Tseng and Choi completed 36 holes at
five-under-par 139.
Maria Hjorth managed an even-par 72, while Jimin Kang carded a one-over 73.
They are tied for third at minus-four.
The round was completed despite a weather delay and strong wind throughout the
day at the Ocean Course at Sky 72 Golf Club.
First-round co-leaders Meaghan Francella and Anna Grzebien struggled mightily
Saturday. Francella stumbled to a six-over 78 to slide into a share of 21st at
even-par 144, while Grzebien faltered to a 10-over 82. That dropped her all
the way to four-over-par 148 and a tie for 44th.
Women's world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa also struggled badly in round two. She played
the back nine first and posted a bogey and two double-bogeys over her first
eight holes.
That dropped Ochoa to plus-five. Ochoa parred her final 10 holes to finish a
round of five-over 77, which left her at five-over-par 149.
Defending champion Candie Kung remains near the bottom of the 71-player field
after carding a three-over 75 in round two. She finished 36 holes at plus-
seven.
Tseng, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, opened with a birdie on the first
for the second straight day. She came back with birdies on the fourth and
eighth to move to six-under.
The 20-year-old gave one stroke right back as she tripped to a bogey on the
par-four ninth. Tseng closed with nine straight pars to finish her round.
"I thought I played okay today," stated Tseng. "There were tough conditions
for most of the day, and it was really windy today. I am happy I am leader
right now, but tomorrow I hope I can try to play better."
Choi was in control of the tournament on the front nine. She converted back-
to-back birdie chances from the fourth to move to six-under.
The Samsung World Championship winner again made consecutive birdies from the
seventh to climb to eight-under, where she led by three.
After four straight pars around the turn, Choi stumbled to three bogeys in a
five-hole span from the 13th to slide back to the field. She parred the last
to share the lead with Tseng.
"It was a tough day, and it was a long day," Choi admitted. "This morning
during my warm-up, I felt really good. There was a lot of wind this morning,
but I just kept trying to enjoy the wind as much as I could all day."
Jee Young Lee, the 2005 champion, shot one-under 71 Saturday to end in a tie
for third at three-under-par 141. She was joined there by Inbee Park (71), Ran
Hong (71), Eun Hee Ji (71), Song-Hee Kim (72) and Bo-Kyung Kim (74).
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