2007 Asia Miles Binhai Ladies Open - Round 1: Shanghai local Shang is surprise leader

Unheralded Chinese professional Shang Linyang bolstered by home support posted a 2-under 70 to take a two-shot lead in the opening round of the US$230,000 Asia Miles-Binhai Ladies Open at the scenic Binhai Golf Club.

The lead came as a surprise to the 25-year-old Shang who lives an hour's drive away from the golf club. "I'm from Shanghai. I'm very pleased to be the leader among the strong field of Koreans, Japanese, Thai and the US girls. I didn't expect to be at helm today, but this is a good tonic to spur me on tomorrow," she said.

Starting off the 10th tee, Shang shrugged off her nervousness to post birdies on her first two holes (10 th and 11th) but dropped one stroke to make the turn at 1-under. Again she started her home stretch with birdies on the 10th and 11th holes (holes 1 and 2) and garnered another on the 14 th to be 3-under. However, Shang struck it wrong at the tailend of her game by losing a stroke each on the last two holes.

"When my name was called I was a little afraid. Moreover, my flight was the first for the morning session. It was a two-ball flight and I hate moving fast. I calmed myself and the birdies I posted on the first two holes erased whatever fear that was in me," said Shang.

However, Shang lamented that she did not have it good around the greens. "I struck well with the driver and irons. My approach, especially pitching fell short of my expectation," she said.

Shang takes a two-stroke lead over three Korean girls – Yoon Su-jung, birthday girl Na Ye-jin and Kim Hae-jung. The trio shares the second spot.

For Ye-jin, there was no cake with lit candles to blow. "I just made a wish to play a good game when I woke up this morning. The 20-year-old, playing her first tournament since turning professional, said she didn't have in the first half of her game but played strongly in the home stretch.

For Hae-jung, it was her first tournament in the LAGT event this year. "I'm glad to be back and be in the running for the title. It's a beautiful layout here and the course is playing good. "I felt really good about my game and I'm going to make something out of it here," she said.

Yoon said she played a smart game today. "I'm not the leader but to sit on a shred second spot is good. I gave myself a good run," said Yoon who is 32 on the Money List in the KLPGA.

Thirteen players including USA's Libby Smith, who won in Hong Kong last month, France's Jade Schaeffer and Korea's best ranked players here Choi Na-yeon, Ahn Sun-ju, and Ham Young-ae are clustered together in fifth spot. The 13 players returned with a two-over par score.

Leading first round scores:

70: Shang Lin Yan (Chn)

72: Yoon Su-jung (Kor), Na Ye-jin (Kor), Kim Hae-jung

74: Na Da-ye (Kor), Yu Pei Lin (Tpe), Wei Yun-Jye (Tpe), Choi Na-yeon (Kor), Ahn Sun-ju (Kor), Jung Hye-jin (Kor), Helena Alterby (Swe), Sofia Renell (Swe), Ham Young-ae (Kor), Ji Eun-hee (Kor), Hee Honglin (Chn), Jade Schaeffer (Fra), Libby Smith (USA)

75: Lim Ji-na (Kor), Russamee Gulyanamitta (Tha), Kim Hqa-neul (Kor), Kong Yung-jung (Kor), Wu Qunfang (Chn), Titiya Plucksataporn (Tha), Jo Young-ran (Kor), Lee Ga-na (Kor), Ye Liying (Chn).

March 21, 2007

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