Tseng Dodges Rain, Takes Four Shot Lead At Women’s British

Southport, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Yani Tseng admitted she was lucky.

She is the leader at the women’s British Open Championship after a second straight 68 at Royal Birkdale, an 8-under 136 total and the good fortune to miss the afternoon rains.

“It was really lucky,” she said after her round. “This morning there was no wind, very calm. The course is totally different than what we played yesterday. So it was just really nice.”

Her back-to-back 68s put her four ahead of LPGA champ Cristie Kerr, who shot the low round of the tournament, a 5-under par 67 that got her in the hunt.

She was tied at 140, 4-under after 36 holes, with Brittany Lincicome (69-71) and Amy Yang (69-71).

“I was determined to be more relaxed out there,” Kerr said, as she finished right before the rains. “I played really, really well. I finished just before the rain. With no wind when we started, I said I gotta take advantage of these conditions.”

She did, getting off to a great start with birdies on the first two holes and went out in 34.

Her only bogey came at the par four eighth. She put together a marvelous nine coming home with four birdies and a 33 total.

Suzann Pettersen was another fortunate morning player. She shot a 4-under par 68 and is five shots back of Tseng at 141. She’s tied with American veteran Julie Inkster (71-70) and Sun Young Yoo (69-72).

Jiyai Shin, the world’s top-ranked woman, was in at two-under, 142 after a second straight 71.

Although Tseng has a nice lead, Kerr was confident going into the weekend. “It’s hard to run away with a tournament,” she pointed out.

As for Tseng, she was happy to be where she is. “Actually, I never had a lead in a major,” said the two-time major champion.

Her weekend game plan?

“Stay very patient.”

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