Korea’s Ryu grabs two-stroke lead in Malaysia

So Yeon Ryu of South Korea watches her shot from the fairway on the second hole during the second round of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2014 golf tournament at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

AFP/Kuala Lumpur

The South Korean added two more birdies on the back nine before suffering the only blemish on her card at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, a bogey on the par-four 14th hole, leaving her at 11-under for the event.

Hot on her heels were a hard-charging trio tied at 9-under, led by Japan’s Ayako Uehara, who orchestrated a bogey-free 63.

England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and 17-year-old phenomenon Lydia Ko of New Zealand stayed level with Uehara after both shot 64.

South Korea’s Eun-Hee Ji joined them 9-under, while three golfers—Shanshan Feng of China, Azahara Munoz of Spain, and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum—were a further stroke back.

World number one Stacy Lewis, who held the first-round lead, surrendered it after the American posted an uncharacteristic four bogeys on the front nine on the way to an even-par 71, leaving her five strokes off the lead.

Last year’s winner Lexi Thompson of the US saw her hopes of a repeat suffer a blow as she struggled yesterday to a 73, putting her at two-over for the tournament, well off the pace.

The $2mn tournament is part of a multi-event swing through Asia by the US LPGA.

Chinese teen Li Haotong    dazzles at China Masters

Chinese teenager Li Haotong set a course record with a six-under-par 65 to take the second round lead at the Nanshan China Masters yesterday.

Li, who is only 19, leapt to the head of the pack in the $1mn OneAsia event at Nanshan International Golf Club, three shots ahead of New Zealand’s Nick Gillespie and American Garrett Sapp.

“I had many good putts today,” said Li, who has been part of China’s national team since he was 14. “I will not think about the result because every time I do, I get thirsty to win and then I don’t win.”

Daniel Woltman of the US had shared the lead after the first round, but his tournament fell apart with a five-over-par 76. His fellow overnight joint leader, Australian Rhein Gibson, also slipped back with a 70 but remained in fourth place.

The Nanshan International Golf Club hosts the training centre for the Chinese team.

Bae, Gonzales share US PGA lead

South Korea’s Bae Sang-Moon fired seven birdies with one bogey in a six-under 66 on Thursday to join American Andres Gonzales atop the US PGA Tour Frys.com Open.

In the first event of the US tour’s 2014-15 season, Bae and Gonzales topped a tightly packed leaderboard. They were one shot in front of Scotland’s Martin Laird, who had five birdies with no bogeys in his five-under par 66 at the Silverado Resort’s North Course.

Gonzales, starting his third year on the PGA Tour, has just one top-10 finish in 44 career starts. He has won on the Web.com developmental tour, and believes he has the game to succeed on the PGA Tour.

“I’ve always felt that I’ve been good enough to be at this level, whether or not I’ve proven that each year,” said Gonzales, whose seven birdies included two in a row to finish. “I’ve felt that each year I have improved each year.”

Bae, owner of one PGA Tour title, birdied his last three holes—and four of his last five—to grab his share of the lead in the afternoon.