2007 Hong Kong Ladies Masters - Round 2: Shih shoots three under for a one shot lead

Chinese Taipei's Shih Huei-ju posted a three-under 69 for a two round total of 144 to lead by one stroke at the end of the second round's play in the US$80,000 Hong Kong Ladies Masters at the Discovery Bay Golf Club, here today.

Winds gusting at 20 mph lashed across the golf course with most golfers posting high scores. Worst affected was round one joint leader Zhong Xiao-long of China who shot an 11-over 83. Looking disappointed, she said: "I just couldn't handle the situation well."

Another Chinese Taipei player Teresa Lu, who was the joint leader yesterday and Korea's Yeo Ji-yae jointly occupy the second spot. They trail Shih Huei-ju by one stroke. Teresa played one-over 73, while Yeo Ji-yae was impressive after carding a three-under 69. The two players have a two-round total of 145.

Shih Huei-ju, who posted five birdies but dropped two – one each at Holes No. 1 and 9, said she felt rather lucky. "I had lots of lucky bounces. There were strong winds out there and some of my shots dropped on the rough but surprisingly bounced back into the fairways," she said.

Overall Huei-ju said she was happy with her game but sadly did not feel comfortable with the putter. "I read the lines well but I was not able to make the putts," she said.

Teresa kept herself in contention for the title, after playing it safe to post a 73. She ended her round with an eagle on the par 5 18 th. "I hit a driver, then a five wood and then chipped it in from the bunker," she said.

Teresa said she was using a lot of punch shots to keep the ball low so that it would not be affected by the strong winds. "It paid off and I managed to finish my game well despite a one-over," she said.

In contrast, Yeo Ji-yae did not start well. She dropped two strokes at the par 3 second hole, after an out of bounds. "It was then that I knew that the winds higher up were far too strong than the ground winds. From then on I decided to use one iron extra to hit my shot to avoid dropping strokes," said Yeo Ji-yae, who made birdies on holes 1, 4, 12, 13 and 15.

Another overnight joint leader Libby Smith of the USA shot a two-over 74. Her two round total of 146 puts her in sole fourth spot.

China's Zhang Na kept herself in contention for the title, after posting a two-over 74. She sits in fifth spot with Chinese Taipei's Tseng Hsiu Feng. Both players have a total of 147.

Leading second round scores (par 72)

144: Shih Huei Ju (Tpe) 75-69

145: Teresa Lu (Tpe) 72-73, Yeo Ji-yae (Kor) 76-69

146: Libby Smith (USA) 72-74

147: Zhang Na (Chn) 73-74, Tseng Hsiu Feng (Tpe) 73-74

148: Rie Shiraki (Jpn) 75-73

149: Nontaya Srisawang (Tha) 75-74, Fame More (Eng) 74-75

February 1, 2007