Korean Na aces her way to Beijing lead

A hole-in-one at the 17th proved the difference for Na Hee-won on Friday as the South Korean grabbed the second-round lead at the Le Coq Sportif Beijing Ladies Classic.

Na carded a 68 in wet conditions in the capital for a 10-under total of 134 at the China LPGA Tour event.

Shi Yuting was one stroke back after the Chinese teenager shot 70 over the Beijing Pearl Orient Country Club course.

Overnight leader Narisara Kerdrit of Thailand struggled in the rain to a one-over 73 to sit two shots off the pace, while China's Liu Yan (69) was fourth, one shot further back.

Na's ace at the 152-yard 17th hole using an eight-iron came when she was two strokes behind Shi.

Shi shot a bogey six at the par-five last before Na made par on the 499-yard hole.

"I hit it and it ended up four meters in front of the pin and then rolled in," said Na of her sixth tournament hole-in-one, but her first in professional competition.

"Before I hit the shot I felt like it was going in. Really. I was feeling really good with my irons so it went in. I saw the shot before it went in."

It was the second hole-in-one of the day as Thailand's Tiranan Yoopan aced the same hole earlier to win an indoor golf simulator.

Na's perfect shot was the 50th recorded in China LPGA Tour history. She said it didn't matter that she would not receive a prize, instead she was just happy to be leading. Her round included four birdies and two bogeys.

"My tee shots were not that good because I kept hitting to the right," said the Seoul native, a fifth-year pro still looking for her first tournament triumph.

"I didn't have real confidence on the back nine, but I tried to relax and really concentrate. My putting was really good, that's why I made the birdies. So I think really easy and not think too hard."

Playing one group ahead of Na, Shi was disappointed with a bogey on the final hole but said she was happy to be in the final group tomorrow.

Her afternoon round included four birdies and two bogeys.

"I had many birdie chances on the back nine, however I didn't convert them. The problem might be distance control on my approach shots," said the Beijing native who is a rookie on the Japan LPGA Tour this season.

"I am one shot behind now and I am glad to play from the last group. You can change your strategy according to the score in the final round.

"I didn't hear cheers from the group behind so I wasn't affected by her (Na's) hole-in-one. I just had a bad tee shot into the right rough on the final hole and made bogey."

A day after tying the course record with a 9-under 63, little went right for Narisara on Friday as it was raining for 11 holes during her round that included a double bogey, three bogeys and four birdies.

"Today the greens were faster than yesterday and the pin positions were harder," said Narisara. "Actually my approach with irons was OK, but the problem was my putting. I need to practice my putting because I feel the greens are going to be faster (tomorrow) than today. The feeling was not the same as yesterday."

Liu Wenbo (73) and Wang Xinying (72) were the leading amateurs as the Chinese teenagers sat seven shots behind the leader at four-under.

China Daily