Taiwan’s Chien Peiyun shot a superb eight-under round of 64 to grab a four-stroke lead after the second round of the Queen City Championship on Friday.
Chien caught fire after she holed out to make eagle on the par-four 6th and then made five birdies on the back nine, with three in a row after the turn and two to finish her round.
“I just putted very well these two days,” said the 32-year-old after her lowest round of the year.
“The eagle is amazing. I was thinking maybe it would go in because I have had a lot of shots that almost went in over the last couple of weeks, but was still waiting for an eagle. But it just happened, so I’m very happy.
“I really want to play well in America and go back to Asia and play in the Asian Games for my country,” she added.
Chien enjoys a four-shot lead over China’s Yin Ruoning, Switzerland’s Morgane Metraux and overnight leader Liu Ruixin of China.
South Africa’s Paula Reto is on five under (T19) after rounds of 73 and 66, while countrywoman Ashleigh Buhai (even par) missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 70.
Yin, who won the Women’s PGA Championship in June, was also bogey free with her 66 and said she was enjoying a boost in self-belief from her Major win.
“I think I’m more confident to play whatever course it is right now,” she said. “Today my tee shot actually was not quite good. I only found seven or eight fairways, but my approach shots were pretty solid. I left myself a lot of birdie chances and my putting was quite good too.”
But the round of the day belonged to Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who shot a nine-under, bogey free 63 to put herself back in contention after her one-over opening round.
Hataoka tied the 18-hole scoring record at Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati and said she had benefitted from making key adjustments after her disappointing effort on Thursday.
“My putting was much better than yesterday,” she said. “My aiming was a off a lot, especially the left to right line. So I just fixed it after the round yesterday, and it felt good.”
Another Japanese player, Yuka Saso, shot 66 to sit five shots off the lead alongside England’s Charley Hull.
© Agence France-Presse
