South Korean So Yeon Ryu leads the ISPS HANDA Australian Open at the halfway mark by one stroke. Ryu fired a four-under-par 69 on Friday at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, which was enough to give her a slender advantage over compatriot Hee Kyung Seo. American pair Jessica Korda and Stacy Lewis, England&aposs Melissa Reid and Paraguay&aposs Julieta Granada are all in a tie for third. Ryu&aposs round included six birdies, three of which came in her first six holes. Bogeys on the seventh and 11th threatened to derail her round but she finished strongly, saving shots on holes 13, 16 and 17 in the morning session to complete the second round with an overall score of six-under-par. That was enough to give her the lead, although Seo struck the best round of the day with her seven-under-par 66. After a first day 75, Seo responded in style with six birdies in her first nine holes of the day en route to the best round of the day. Granada&aposs one-under 72 came thanks to an eagle on the par five 17th, with an erratic round that included four birdies and five bogeys giving the crowd plenty of entertainment. Korda&aposs three-under 70 included four birdies and an eagle, while Reid shot 71 for the second day in a row and Lewis ended up with an even-par 73. Beyond the group of four players tied for third at four-under, there is a large gap with Americans Cydney Clanton and Brittany Lincicome joined by German Sandrea Gal and Canadian Lorie Kane at one-under, in a tie for seventh. World number one Yani Tseng, who won the same event in 2010 and 2011, is six shots off the lead after a three-over 76.
Author: Sportal