K-golf to the fore at Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia

Korean golfer Ryu So-yeon (right) sharing a light moment with compatriot Ji Eun-hee during the second round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia at KLGCC on Friday. S. S. KANESAN/ the STAR

KUALA LUMPUR: The Korean charge is on!

And it was Ryu So-yeon who stepped up to the plate in the second round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia – firing a six-under 65 for a two-day total of 11-under 131 and a two-shot lead.

Just like on Thursday, So-yeon picked up birdies on the first, then four on the trot from hole four and back-to-back on 12th and 13th to bring her day’s tally to seven – just one short from her first round effort – at the East Course of the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club on Friday. She had lone bogey at the par-4 14th. The 24-year-old almost scored a hole-in-one on the fifth, which she claims is the hardest par-three.

“I think I’m very suited for this golf course, especially on the front nine. I shot five-under through seven holes and that just made it a lot more easier on me today (yesterday),” said So-yeon, who admitted that she ran out of gas on the back nine. “The thing is that it was really hot today ... so, on the back nine, my energy level was low compared to the front nine. “But still 66 and 65 is a good score to get under my belt, so I’m happy.”

So-yeon, however, has to be careful as she has a hungry pack lurking. Japan’s Ayako Uehara (63), rookie Lydia Ko (64), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (64) and Ji Eun-Hee (67) are all tied-second on nine-under 133.

Uehara and Eward Shadoff have yet to win on the Tour. Eun-hee’s last title was the US Women’s Open in 2009 while Lydia is looking for her third win of the year as she closes in on the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year crown.

But So-Yeon, who bagged the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in August after a two-year title drought, is unfazed heading into the weekend.

“I got to work with my psychologist and we found out that my problem is that I just want to control everything on the golf course. But I’m human, and I can’t do that,” said So-yeon. “Now, I just try to choose what I can do and what I cannot control. So, I focus on what I can control and these days it just makes me enjoy my golf a lot more. And I just try to have a good season, enjoy life and enjoy my golf. “After Reignwood (in Beijing) last week (where she finished tied-19th), I came here with zero expectations. So sometimes, that’s good.”

Meanwhile, a wobbly start of three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine saw overnight leader Stacy Lewis sign off with an even-par 71 for a six-under 136 total to share 11th spot with Lee Il-hee, Gerina Piller, Angela Stanford, Catriona Matthew, Lee Mi-hyang and Choi Na-yeon.

Other big movers of the day include Spaniard Azahara Munoz and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum. Munoz scored eight birdies and two bogeys while Pornanong fired seven birdies and three bogeys to share sixth spot on eight-under 134 with China’s Feng Shanshan.

South Korean pair Chella Choi and Jenny Chin had a bogey-free round, taking five and three birdies respectively, to stay a further stroke behind on 10-under 135.

-thestar online.