Jenny Shin and Eun-Hee Ji sit atop a packed leaderboard at 7-under par and share the 36-hole lead at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship presented by CTBC. The duo leads Brittany Altomare by one shot and has a large group of pursuers with 11 players within five shots of the lead.
On a day when everything seemed to go her way despite the tough playing conditions, Shin posted a 5-under par, 67 to climb to the top of the leaderboard.
“I feel really good. I've had some really good putts today, really good shots. I had a really good break back there on the 18th hole,” said Shin. “My tee shot went to the right, but I got relief because it was completely underwater, and I took advantage of that obviously. Made the putt on 17, so I wanted to keep running at it and made my last putt on 18.”
Ji, round one leader, whose last victory came at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open had a bit of an up-and-down day, carding two bogeys and two birdies to finish with a 1-under 71 and a share of the lead.
“Not as great as yesterday but I don't feel really bad, you know,” said Ji. “I just struggled with my putting this first nine, and I get just a little bit better on the back nine. I just made it out a little bit, and, yeah, I think I'm pretty happy to make a birdie on the last.”
Altomare, who is in her fourth year on Tour, had five birdies and a bogey en route to her 6-under round. The 26-year old from Massachusetts, who playing for her first time in Chinese Taipei and looking for her first LPGA Tour win and knows she’ll have to be ready for a shootout on the weekend.
“I haven't played all the golf courses. Last year I only played Beijing and Blue Bay,” said Altomare. “I'm just kind of like seeing the golf courses and just trying to keep the play that I've had going and staying positive through this weather.”
Altomare only missed one fairway on Friday and hit 14 of 18 greens.
“I think I've just felt more and more comfortable out here,” said Altomare. ‘My caddie throughout the year, Dewi, I think she helped me stay confident and be comfortable in those positions, whereas last year, I didn't feel so confident and comfortable. I think now with two good experiences under my belt; I can hopefully do something this weekend.”
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