Albatross keeps Liu Yan in front at LPGA’s Chevron Championship
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Liu Yan of China plays her shot from the second tee during the second round of The Chevron Championship on April 25.
PHOTO: AFP
HOUSTON – China’s Liu Yan recorded a rare albatross – a three-under score on a hole – and emerged with the lead after the second round of the Chevron Championship on April 25 in The Woodlands, Texas.
On the par-five eighth hole at The Club at Carlton Woods, her second shot impressively found the hole.
Liu wound up shooting an even-par 72, leaving her at seven-under 137 in the first LPGA Major of the season.
She said of her albatross: “I take my seven-iron and I see the ball (went) in, so that’s a really cool thing. But I think they (TV crew) don’t have video for that hole. Little sad.
“I think I jumped twice on the fairway. Just very happy and so excited. Players in (my) group say congrats to me, so that’s very nice.”
Four players are tied for second at six under – Lindy Duncan (66), Sarah Schmelzel (68), Japan’s Mao Saigo (68) and South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo (71).
Angel Yin (70), Belgium’s Manon de Roey (71) and South Koreans Choi Hye-jin (71) and Ryu Hae-ran (74) share sixth place at five under. Ryu and Liu were the co-leaders after the opening round.
Additionally, China’s Zhang Weiwei was five under through 15 holes and five under for the tournament when play was suspended due to darkness.
Liu, a 27-year-old who has yet to win an LPGA event, admitted she will feel some pressure entering the weekend.
“I think definitely I will feel a little bit, because this – well, this is Major,” she said. “I know the course going to be harder, harder, so I think I just stay patient, calm. Because I’m very emotional person, yes.”
World No. 1 and defending champion Nelly Korda bounced back from a 77 in the first round with a 68, leaving her tied for 46th at one over. Also at one over is world No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who shot a second-round 72.
In men’s golf, Isaiah Salinda holed a late birdie putt as he and Kevin Velo secured a one-shot lead at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana in Avondale.
Salinda and Velo opened the team event with a 58, a tournament record for four-ball (best ball). The action on April 25 was foursomes (alternate shot), and they managed a three-under 69 to hang on to the lead at 17-under 127.
The duo were ahead of Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin, who turned in a 66 earlier in the day to get to 16 under. REUTERS
