SINGAPORE: World number one Tseng Yani eagled her last hole at Singapore’s star-studded HSBC Women’s Champions yesterday as she shot up the leaderboard and put pressure on first-round leader Azahara Munoz.
Tseng’s 25-foot downhill putt across the 18th green, a contender for shot of the day, drew broad smiles and an arms-aloft celebration from the Taiwanese ace as she rocketed up the standings to lie three shots behind Munoz with a 68.
Munoz ended a hot first day at the par-72 Sentosa Golf Club two shots clear on seven-under-par 65 after dropping four birdies on her front nine and another three on the way back. The Spaniard also pulled out a big par save on 16 and lipped out a birdie attempt on 17, as she finished bogey-free and ahead of five players tied for second, including American world number four Stacy Lewis.
Tseng, another shot back and hunting her first win in nearly a year, was among four players on 68 including America’s Paula Creamer, who made light of whiplash sustained in a car crash after last week’s event in Thailand.
Japan’s Ai Miyazato was forced to pull out of the Singapore event as she recovers from similar injuries from the five-car smash in Bangkok, which also involved Norway’s Suzann Pettersen.
AFP
