Lengthy downpour fails to derail Feng’s march to top in Malaysia
>> KUALA LUMPUR: Feng Shanshan had three birdies before a lengthy rain delay and three more after it to shoot a six-under-par 65 yesterday and take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Malaysia.
Play was halted for close to four hours because of heavy rain at TPC Kuala Lumpur. But Feng, a two-time champion from China, managed to stay steady on both sides of the interruption to lead at 11-under 131.
“I didn’t have as many birdie chances as yesterday, but I think I actually made more putts,” Feng said.
“So that actually made me happy, and I think six under is still a very good score here.”
Madelene Sagstorm (66) was in second place, followed by Cristie Kerr (63) at 133.
Kerr’s round was the lowest of the day.
“I have an easy time starting to think too much, so it’s about finding the right position,” Sagstrom said.
“It’s not the job on the course. I’m just trying to get back into what I know works, and I kind of got back in that rhythm afterwards.”
Overnight leader Lydia Ko (72) couldn’t maintain her first-round form and carded four bogeys in the second.
Meanwhile, the smile on Kim SeiYoung’s face belied the unfortunate penalty at No.17 which cost her two strokes and her spot at the top of the leaderboard.
With her ball in a bunker off the tee and at 10-under for the tournament, Kim removed a leaf from the bunker, an infraction of a rule.
“That’s fine. We have two more rounds,” said Kim, ever the optimist.
While she sits four strokes behind Feng, Kim is comfortable with her ball-striking and feels that a weekend charge is well within her grasp.
“I’ll just focus on what I have to do,” said Kim, who won the 2017 Lorena Ochoa Match Play.
“That was key today. So I’ll keep going, whatever happens come to me, and I just focus and trust myself.”
World No.25 Moriya Jutanugarn was the best Thai performer, hitting a 69 for 137 to stay joint 15th. Her younger sister Ariya shot another 72 for tied 51st on 144, one stroke ahead of Pornanong Phatlum.