China's Yuting Leads Individual Scores But The Philippines Maintain Stay On Top In Team Event

PETALING JAYA (Selangor, Malaysia), April 11 (Bernama) -- China's Shi Yuting continued her impressive performance at the 36th Queen Sirikit Cup 2014 Malaysia to keep China within striking range of leaders the Philippines. The Philippines however, opened up a two-stroke gap over China and South Korea after sharing the lead with the Koreans on Wednesday. In Thursday's second round at the Saujana Golf and Country Club, Shi followed up on her opening 70 with an impressive four-under 68 to top the individual leader board by four strokes. Her sterling performance combined with her compatriot Wang Ziyi's 73 gave the Chinese a total of 141 and a two-day haul of 286 for a share of second place alongside South Korea, who chalked up a second successive 143, courtesy of Lee So-young (71) and Gyeol Park (72). "I'm quite happy with my score but a little disappointed with how I finished my round. My putting was much better than yesterday and I was lucky to be able to convert all my birdies from under 10 feet. "I was six-under through 15th but I got a little over-excited and the heat took its toll, which resulted in two dropped shots on the 16th when I three-putted after missing the green with my approach and on the 18th when my tee-shot went into the water. "That two shots could have made a difference for our team overall but my team captain (Wei Qingfeng) advised us to just focus on our respective games tomorrow and not think about how we finish or winning just yet," said Shi. The Philippines remained in the lead as Princess Mary Superal carded a three-under 69 with Pauline Del Rosario notching a vital even-par 72 for a 141 total and follow-up with the 143 that they shot Wednesday. Superal, 17, said they need to remain consistent and deliver a good final round, which hopefully will lift them to victory in the championship. "It feels nice to remain on the top of the leader board and we feel good about our chances tomorrow (Friday)," said Superal. An improved display by the Malaysians, notably a two-over 74 by Dianne Luke Jia Zhen and Nur Durriyah Damian's 77, lifted the hosts to 11 placing with a two-day total of 308 but 24 strokes off the pace set by the Philippines. --BERNAMA