SHANGHAI, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Overnight leader Shi Yuli did just enough to maintain her one-stroke lead during second-round play of the Women's China Open on Saturday as the country's top amateurs moved into contention on a windy day at the national championship.
Playing over the Yangtze Dunes layout at PGA Anying Golf Club on Shanghai's Chongming Island, Beijing veteran Shi carded a one-under 71 at the CLPG Tour's flagship event to get to five-under 139 through 36 holes at the one million-yuan championship.
China's top amateur, Liu Yujie, the world No. 16, shot a three-under 69 for the low round of the day to sit one shot back. Ren Yijia, the CLPG Tour points ranking leader, carded a 71 and was equal third with amateur Cui Jinghan (70) at two shots off the pace.
Thailand's Kornkamol Sukaree (72) was fifth at four shots back.
With the wind picking up throughout her early morning round at the link-style course beside the Yangtze River, Shi, last year's inaugural CLPG Tour point ranking winner, held it together in the blustery conditions to card a round featuring four birdies and three bogeys, two of which came over the last three holes.
"I made a bogey on the third-to-last hole, which is a difficult hole to begin with. We were playing into a strong headwind and I may have taken too much club, leaving myself with a very difficult two-putt. I barely tapped the ball, but it rolled a long way. A three-putt there was understandable. On the last hole, I thought I hit a really good approach shot, but unfortunately, the ball rolled off the green. I couldn't make the final putt either," said the 24-year-old Shi.
After winning the season-ending CLPG Tour Championship in December for her first title since turning pro in 2018, Shi said she would have to be at her best for Sunday's final round if she is to add the national championship to her resume.
"Here you have to factor the wind into every shot you hit. It's so important to stay calm and keep things in perspective. The China Women's Open is obviously very important, although the other tournaments matter too. But this is one of the biggest events of the year, so I think deep down I'll be even more eager to win and achieve a good result here."
Liu, the daughter of former table tennis world champion and Olympic gold medalist Liu Guoliang, started the day three shots back and quickly moved up the leaderboard with birdies at the fourth, fifth and seventh holes. She would pick up another stroke at the par-five 12th to move into a tie for the lead before dropping her only shot of the day at the 415-yard 16th hole.
"I felt like I struggled quite a bit today, especially on the back nine. The front nine actually went really smoothly. My approach shots, driving, and putting were all very good. But things got much tougher on the back nine, and my fairway and green hit rates dropped quite a bit. I was relying on my chipping and putting to save par on almost every hole," said the 16-year-old Beijing native.
"My putting was really good today, though. The wind also picked up this afternoon, which made the course play a little tougher overall. Hopefully, tomorrow I can hit more fairways and greens."
Fellow Beijinger Cui, a 15-year-old who is 79th in the world rankings, carded five birdies, including one on the last hole, and three bogeys in her afternoon round.
"My long game has been in good shape over the past two days. I missed a few birdie putts from fairly close range today, so I feel like I could have made more birdies. Hopefully I can keep up my good long game tomorrow and hole a few more short putts," said the teenager.
Ren, who has won six times on the CLPG Tour over the past three years, stayed close to the top of the leaderboard with a round featuring four birdies, one of which came on the last hole, and three bogeys. Tomorrow, she will play in the second-to-last group.
"Some players might feel that being in the second-to-last group is better because there's less pressure, but for me, it's the same either way. I'll just do my best and focus on my own game," said the 17-year-old Dalian native, 292nd in the Rolex World Rankings.
Sui Xiang, who was one shot back after the first round, struggled to a 76 to fall six shots back. Cai Danlin, who was tied with Sui after the opening round, was a shot further back after a 77. Defending champion Pang Runzhi improved to 73 to sit equal 16th, eight shots back. ■
