Jiyai Shin fires 64, leads British Open by five shots

Wirral, United Kingdom (4E Sports) – Fresh from her ninth LPGA win last week, South Korea’s Jiyai Shin has shown no sign of slowing down, firing an eight-under-par 64 in the second round Friday to grab a five-shot lead in the Women’s British Open.

Shin tamed the 6,660-yard, par-72 Royal Liverpool Golf Club with rounds of 33 and 31 to set the lowest round recorded in competition on the course, erasing the 7-under 65 that was shot by four players during the 2006 Open Championship.

“My goal was one under every single day, so eight under – wow. I can’t believe it. I think it’s the best round I’ve ever played,” said Shin, who won here in 2008 to qualify for the LPGA Tour.

“I had nine under there [in Virginia], but it was soft greens and fairways and easy to hit it aggressive. This is a totally different golf course,” Shin added.

Shin qualified for the British Open after beating Paula Creamer in the ninth playoff hole to capture the Kingsmill Championship trophy.

Shin’s compatriot Inbee Park finished with a four-under 68 for second place, five strokes behind the leader.

“I had a lot of easy birdies on the back nine, and the front nine was really tough because the wind picked up,” said Park. “I’ve been playing the front nine really hard because my ball is a little bit right-to-left shape and the wind is coming right-to-left, so I just have to watch the front nine a little bit more the next two days.”

Three-time British Open champion Karrie Webb shot a two-under 70 in the second round to settle in a tie for third place with Mika Miyazato of Japan, six strokes behind Shin.

“I’m happy to be at 3-under and I’m surprised to be six shots behind being at 3-under,” Webb said. “But you know, I’m happy with the way I played and handled the golf course. When there was no wind today, I wasn’t swinging as well as I would have liked.”

Two-time defending champion Yani Tseng shot her second straight 72 to stay in a tie for 11th place, nine strokes behind Shin.

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