At 7-under par, Jenny Shin and Eun-Hee Ji share the 36-hole lead at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship.
Shin fired a 5-under 67 on day two at Miramar Golf Country Club, highlighted by birdies on the final two closing holes (17 and 18).
“I feel really good. I’ve had some really good putts today, really good shots. I had a really good break back there on the 18th hole,” said Shin, who has not missed a single cut in 21 events this season. “My tee shot went to the right, but I got relief because it was completely underwater, and I took advantage of that obviously. Made the putt on 17, so I wanted to keep running at it and made my last putt on 18.”
Opening-round leader Ji finished at 1-under 71, with three birdies and two bogeys.
“Not as great as yesterday but I don’t feel really bad, you know,” said Ji, who is looking for her first win since the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open. “I just struggled with my putting this first nine, and I get just a little bit better on the back nine. I just made it out a little bit, and, yeah, I think I’m pretty happy to make a birdie on the last.”
One back of the duo is Brittany Altomare, who had five birdies and a bogey en route to a 6-under 66. The 26-year old, who was edged by Anna Nordqvist in a playoff at last month’s Evian Championship, cited her performance on the greens.
“I made a lot of long putts on the front and it was nice to see the ball go in the hole,” said Altomare. “I felt like I struggled a little bit with my putting last week.”
Su Oh (67) is alone in fourth at 5 under, while Madalene Sagstron (68) and Meghan Khang (71) round out the top 5 at 4 under.
TOP 10: ROUND 2
1 Jenny Shin -7
1 Eun-Hee Ji -7
3 Brittany Altomare -6
4 Su-Hyun Oh -5
5 Madelene Sagstrom -4
5 Megan Khang -4
7 So Yeon Ryu- 3
7 Brittany Lang -3
9 Shanshan Feng -2
9 Carlota Ciganda -2
9 Angel Yin -2
9 Brittany Lincicome-2
9 Azahara Munoz -2
QUOTABLE: ROUND 2 LEADERS
“Like I said earlier, I enjoy the rain, a lot more than wind. I enjoyed myself. I wasn’t complaining. I was pretty happy and content. You know, Taiwan, it’s always pretty windy and rainy. You don’t know what weather you’re going to get. I kind of just stuck with what I’ve been working on and it worked out.”
-Jenny Shin
“I’m not trying to make a birdie out there. I’m trying to make a safe play, and don’t try to — I mean, I’m not trying to make, you know, like losing or struggle or whatever it is. Just trying to make a safe play.”
-Eun-Hee Ji
