Mika On Top With Two Stroke Lead

Written on January 26, 2007 by admin

Mika Kimura of Japan played a two over 73 today for a two-round total of 143, but it was still enough for the 23-year-old from Kobe, to maintain her two-stroke lead in the Macau Ladies Open presented by CTM at the par-71 Macau Golf and Country Club.

However, it was Chinese Taipei’s Tseng Hsiu-feng who stole the limelight after carding a 3-under 68 to jump from joint 26 th to sit joint second with USA’s Natalie Tucker.

Hsiu Feng who registered a 77 in the first round was in a stellar form and claimed that was there was hardly any error to her game today. She has a 36-hole total of 145.

“I could have returned with a lower score if not for a couple of lip-outs today. My driver and iron shots were working well and I was feeling good with the putter,” said Hsiu Feng, who will be celebrating her 39 th birthday next week.

From Taipei, Hsiu Feng said she had been in similar position ? in second spot going into the final round - many times before, but always faltered on the final day.

“I hope to break this jinx. My gameplan for the final round will be the same as today. I’ll be taking a safe approach,” said Hsiu Feng, adding that she will avoid putting aggression to her game.

Natalie Tucker, who had promised to break the Asian women’s monopoly on the Ladies Asian Golf Tour, is keeping her fingers crossed. “I’m now within striking distance. I hope to win this tournament and be the first American winner in the LAGT event,” she said.

“I feel good and I’ve been enjoying good form this week but I’m not going to put a number on how high I’m going to finish,” she said.

Mika, despite playing two-over said her game was good. She’s not prepared to let up and wants to go on record to be the first winner to win a LAGT event leading in all three rounds.

Leading 2nd round scores;

143: Mika Kimura (Jpn) 70-73
145: Tseng Hsiu Feng (Tpe) 77-68, Natalie Tucker (USA) 73-72
146: Kim Eun-hee (Kor) 73-73, Fame More (Eng) 75-71
147: Yeo Jiyae (Kor) 74-73, Satarak Wailalak (Tha) 75-72, Zhang Na (Chn) 76-71
148: Nam Min-ji (Kor) 72-76, Wei Xiaorong (Chn) 73-75, Wang Chun (Chn) 76-72, Titiya Plucksatoporn (Tha) 79-69