Jiyai Shin opened a five-stroke lead in the Women’s British Open, shooting an 8-under 64 yesterday in the wild-delayed second round in Hoylake, England.
Coming off a playoff victory Monday in the Kingsmill Championship, the 24-year-old South Korean player had a 9-under 135 total at Royal Liverpool.
The nine-time LPGA Tour winner hit all 18 greens in regulation and needed only 28 putts. The 64 is the lowest round in competition at Royal Liverpool, breaking the mark of 65 set by four players in the 2006 British Open.
“A bogey-free day and then bunker-free, too, so that was probably the best round I have ever played in a major,” Shin said. “So that is a good thing, today’s golf. I missed just one fairway. And on the back nine, it’s blowing very strong wind, but I just stay focused on my tempo and my timing with my driver and shots.”
South Korea’s Inbee Park was second after a 68.
Australia’s Karrie Webb, the tournament winner in 1995, 1997 and 2002, was another stroke back along with Japan’s Mika Miyazato. They shot 70.
“I’m surprised to be six shots behind at 3 under,” Webb said. “But I’m happy with the way I played and handled the golf course. I’ll just try to narrow the gap and see how it goes.”
Play was called off Friday because of high wind and the round was restarted yesterday. The final two rounds are set for today.
Shin opened on the par-5 10th with a 30-yard chip for eagle and birdied the next three holes. She also birdied the 16th for a 6-under 31 on the back nine. She added two more birdies on the front nine.
Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old amateur coming off a victory three weeks ago in the Canadian Women’s Open, was 1 under. Michelle Wie was 1 over, following her opening 75 with a 70.
Champions Tour
In Kapolei, Hawaii, Bill Glasson moved into position for his first Champions Tour victory, shooting a 7-under 65 to take four-stroke lead into the final round of inaugural Hawaii Championship.
Winless in 46 starts on the 50-and-over tour, the 52-year-old Glasson had a 13-under 131 total. He won seven times on the PGA Tour in an injury-plagued career marked by more than 20 surgeries.
First-round leader Peter Senior and Mark McNulty were tied for second.
European Tour
In Fiano, Italy, Garth Mulroy of South Africa shot a 6-under 66, giving him a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Italian Open.
“I said on the first day the course reminds me a lot of a South African course,” he said. “It would be a big thing to win on mainland Europe.”
Ryder Cup players Nicolas Colsaerts and Martin Kaymer were four strokes behind.
The third Ryder Cup player in the field, Italy’s Francesco Molinari, fell back to 3 under with a 76. Europe Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal also shot a 76 and was at par.