Sörenstam leading chase in Suzhou Open
Swedish golfer Annika Sörenstam has not given up hope of of securing her fourth tour victory of the year at the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China. Sörenstam hit a second round 69 to hold on to second place on the leader board.
China's Ye Liying extended her lead after hitting a bogey-free second-round four-under 68 in wet conditions on Saturday.
Liying's two-day total of 11-under 133 puts her five strokes ahead of South Korea's Han Min-jee and Sörenstam.
Both Min-jee and Sörenstam checked out with a three-under 69 to put them in second place in the 200,000-Euro (250,000-dollar) contest with a two-round total of six-under 138.
Liying, who posted birdies on the 3rd, 5th, 11th and 18th holes, said she had played it safe in the second round to maintain her lead.
"I told myself to play it safe and add a few more birdies to strengthen my position," said Liying.
"There's no pressure on me. I'll go into the final round and try and pick up a couple of strokes to keep my rivals out of reach."
Karen Lunn of Australia and fellow Ladies European Tour player Anna Rossie of Italy recorded the lowest total in the second round by posting a five-under 67.
Sörenstam, the favourite to win before the start of the contest on Friday, said she thought she had played well.
"I hit 17 greens again today. I still give myself a chance to win this tournament. It's not over until the full playing schedule is over.
"I feel very comfortable after playing three times (one pro-am) in this course. Some of my putts braked near the lip of the cup. I hope the putts will roll in tomorrow," she said.
The Swede is calling it quits at the end of the season to start a family and focus on her business interests and is targeting her fourth victory this year.
Comments
See Also
China's Ye Liying extended her lead after hitting a bogey-free second-round four-under 68 in wet conditions on Saturday.
Liying's two-day total of 11-under 133 puts her five strokes ahead of South Korea's Han Min-jee and Sörenstam.
Both Min-jee and Sörenstam checked out with a three-under 69 to put them in second place in the 200,000-Euro (250,000-dollar) contest with a two-round total of six-under 138.
Liying, who posted birdies on the 3rd, 5th, 11th and 18th holes, said she had played it safe in the second round to maintain her lead.
"I told myself to play it safe and add a few more birdies to strengthen my position," said Liying.
"There's no pressure on me. I'll go into the final round and try and pick up a couple of strokes to keep my rivals out of reach."
Karen Lunn of Australia and fellow Ladies European Tour player Anna Rossie of Italy recorded the lowest total in the second round by posting a five-under 67.
Sörenstam, the favourite to win before the start of the contest on Friday, said she thought she had played well.
"I hit 17 greens again today. I still give myself a chance to win this tournament. It's not over until the full playing schedule is over.
"I feel very comfortable after playing three times (one pro-am) in this course. Some of my putts braked near the lip of the cup. I hope the putts will roll in tomorrow," she said.
The Swede is calling it quits at the end of the season to start a family and focus on her business interests and is targeting her fourth victory this year.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.