Chinese Golfer Feng extends lead on day 2 of Omega Dubai Ladies Masters
Shanshan Feng flirted with the course record before carding a sizzling second-round 65 on Thursday to consolidate her lead in the Omega Dubai Ladies Masters being held under the patronage of HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Starting her second from the 10th tee, the world number six from China – the highest ranked players in the field — produced a stunning birdie blitz, picking up shots on holes 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17 to make the turn at five under.
On her inward journey, she mixed three birdies with a lone bogey on the par-3 fourth hole – her only dropped shot in 36 holes — to go a whopping 13-under for the tournament, a good four shots of England’s Felicity Johnson who followed her fist-round 68 with a 67.
Cindy Lacrosse of the US, Joanna Klatten (France) and Caroline Masson (Germany) and Gwladys Nocera (France) were a further one shot back on eight-under 136 while defending champion Lexi Thompson kept her chances alive with rounds of 69 and 68.
The half-way cut was made at one over with 60 players making it to the final two rounds. Among the notable who missed the mark included Solheim Cup player Maria Hjorth, LPGA rookie Jodi Ewart and Dubai-based amateur Kavita Sehmi.
The morning session belonged to Feng, the only player from mainland China to register a victory on the LPGA Tour in June earlier this year. She had a chance to equal the course record, a 64, held by Sweden’s Louise Stahle since 2007, but had to settle for pars in her last four holes.
“My putting was really good. I think I have learned something from Inbee Park, who is our money queen on the LPGA Tour this season. I have played with her many times and know how well she putts.
“My low score of the year was only six-under and today I have managed to break that. It will be great if I managed to keep the momentum going,” said Feng.
Defending champion Thompson believes she is in a good position to make the move despite being six shots off the pace. “I am feeling good about my game. I shot a three-under in the first round and four in the second, so I am getting better.
“If I can shoot five or six under on the weekend that will put me in a good position. You can make a lot of birdies out there and, hopefully, I have saved them for the weekend,” said a confident Thompson, who is aiming to follow in the footsteps of legendary Annika Sorenstam, the only player to have won back-to-back events in Dubai.
England’s Johnson birdied her last hole to finish off in style. “It was a straightforward round. I struck the ball again and hit a lot of greens.
“I managed to create many good opportunities, which was great. So far I am very happy with my work,” said Johnson, who is currently placed 24th on ISPS Handa Order of Merit.
Scores at the end of round 2:
131 – Shanshan Feng (CHN) 66 65
135 – Felicity Johnson (ENG) 68 67
136 – Cindy Lacrosse (USA) 67 69, Gwladys Nocera (FRA) 68 68, Caroline Masson (DEU) 68 68, Joanna Klatten (FRA) 71 65
137 – Lexi Thompson (USA) 69 68
138 – Carlota Ciganda (ESP) 70 68, Lorie Kane (CAN) 68 70
139 – Jennie Lee (USA) 70 69, Bree Arthur (AUS) 69 70, Lydia Hall (WAL) 68 71
140 – Beth Allen (USA) 70 70, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 67 73, Julieta Granada (PAR) 70 70, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 69 71, Dewi Claire Schreefel (NLD) 69 71, Linda Wessberg (SWE) 70 70, Florentyna Parker (ENG) 66 74
141 – Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 68 73, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 68 73, Line Vedel (DNK) 69 72, Trish Johnson (ENG) 70 71, Diana Luna (ITA) 70 71, Stacy Lee Bregman (ZAF) 69 72, Sarah Kemp (AUS) 69 72, Tandi Cuningham (ZAF) 72 69
142 – Stacey Keating (AUS) 72 70, Kristie Smith (AUS) 70 72, Ashleigh Simon (ZAF) 68 74, Maria Verchenova (RUS) 71 71, Elizabeth Bennett (ENG) 69 73, Holly Aitchison (ENG) 70 72, Laura Davies (ENG) 71 71
143 – Charlotte Ellis (ENG) 70 73, Stefania Croce (ITA) 69 74, Nikki Garrett (AUS) 70 73, Michelle Wie (USA) 70 73, Julie Greciet (FRA) 72 71, Yu Yang Zhang (CHN) 69 74, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 70 73, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 70 73, Danielle Montgomery (ENG) 71 72, Sahra Hassan (WAL) 67 76, Valentine Derrey (FRA) 69 74, Virginie Lagoutte-clement (FRA) 72 71, Hannah Jun (USA) 71 72, Diana D Alessio (USA) 73 70
144 – Hee-Kyung Seo (KOR) 74 70, Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 74 70, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 71 73, Becky Morgan (WAL) 69 75, Malene Jorgensen (DNK) 70 74, Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 71 73, Caroline Afonso (FRA) 74 70
145 – Carly Booth (SCO) 78 67, Stephanie Na (AUS) 71 74, Sophie Walker (ENG) 74 71, Chrisje De Vries (NLD) 71 74, Lucie Andre (FRA) 76 69
Missed the cut:
146 – Rebecca Codd (IRL) 73 73, Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 75 71, Louise Larsson (SWE) 73 73, Jodi Ewart (ENG) 69 77, Maria Hjorth (SWE) 72 74, Connie Chen (ZAF) 71 75, Tania Elosegui (ESP) 71 75, Cassandra Kirkland (FRA) 72 74
147 – Henni Zuel (ENG) 74 73, Carmen Alonso (ESP) 74 73, Dawn Shockley (USA) 73 74, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 71 76
148 – Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) 72 76, Anais Maggetti (CHE) 74 74, Celine Palomar (FRA) 74 74, Maria Beautell (ESP) 73 75, Vikki Laing (SCO) 74 74
149 – Rachel Bailey (AUS) 72 77, Caroline Martens (NOR) 71 78, Elin Emanuelsson (SWE) 77 72, Lynnette Brooky (NZL) 73 76
150 – Amelia Lewis (USA) 77 73, Karen Lunn (AUS) 72 78, Georgina Simpson (ENG) 74 76, Bo-Mi Suh (KOR) 77 73, Rachel Jennings (ENG) 76 74, Kym Larratt (ENG) 71 79
151 – Laurette Maritz (ZAF) 73 78, Elisabeth Esterl (DEU) 75 76, Alexandra Vilatte (FRA) 75 76
152 – Marjet Van Der Graaff (NLD) 78 74, Stefanie Michl (AUT) 73 79
153 – Jessica Yadloczky (USA) 75 78
154 – Steffi Kirchmayr (DEU) 79 75, Jade Schaeffer (FRA) 77 77, Liebelei Lawrence (LUX) 78 76, Carin Koch (SWE) 76 78
155 – Clare Queen (SCO) 77 78
156 – Rebecca Artis (AUS) 73 83
158 – Zuzana Kamasova (SVK) 80 78, Kiran Matharu (ENG) 77 81
159 – Kylie Walker (SCO) 80 79
160 – Marieke Nivard (NLD) 82 78
161 – Nicole Gergely (AUT) 82 79
166 – Nanna Kofod Nielsen (DNK) 85 81
168 – Kavita Sehmi (ENG) 76 92
