BEIJING, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Chinese veteran Yang Hongmei opened up a two-stroke lead during the second round of the 50,000 U.S. dollars Orient Masters Beijing on Thursday when she fired a one-under 71 in hot but windy conditions.
The Hainan-based Sichuan native was an aggregate three-under 141 through 36 holes in the first tournament of the Orient Masters Tour season. Compatriot Shen Yanhua (69) was alone in second, followed by first round co-leader Shang Linyan (74) at even par.
"I think I best achieved my plan today," said the 32-year-old Yang, who returned to pro golf last year after the birth of her first child. "I made three birdies from nine feet on the front nine and I just tried to build on that."
"But I was disappointed on two par fives today as I three putted for bogey twice, including the 18th, a very difficult hole. Today, my drive (on the 18th) hit the rough beside a bunker. The rough was very long so on the second shot I was forced to choke up. The third shot was not an ideal position on the green and then I three putted," said the three-time winner on the Orient Masters Tour.
"Tomorrow my strategy is the same. In the long holes I will just shoot for four. But in the short holes I will be aggressive and try to get birdie. I am in a good position but Shen Yanhua is a good player and she will be looking to overtake me."
Shanghai-based Jiangsu native Shen said she struggled through the back nine after hurting her ankle while driving. "After the 10th hole, my ankle started to hurt and needed ice. That made for a tough finish. Yesterday my putting was not good. After my round I practiced for two hours and it made the difference today. This was the key to the round."
"Tomorrow I will just forget about what happened the last two days and play my game. I'm still looking for my first pro win."
Thailand's Nontaya Srisawang was the top foreign player in the field after shooting a 71 to sit five strokes off the pace.
After making the turn at one-over, the Chiang Mai native, a three-time winner on the All-Thailand tour this year, birdied the 10th. After a double-bogey six on the next, she reeled off birdies on the 13th, 15th and 16th to put her self within contention.
"My driving was okay today but my approach shots were a bit off," said the 20-year-old. "I was putting okay and I made four good saves from the bunkers on the back nine, so that is somethingto build on. Tomorrow, I just got to play my game and take my birdies when I can get them."
The top 30 professionals and ties in the 70 player, no-cut field can earn prize money.
The Orient Masters Beijing is a China Golf Association-sanctioned event. It is the first of five tournaments on the five-year-old tour that will be played around the country this year, culminating in the third Orient China Ladies Open in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on December 12-15.
Orient Masters Beijing second round leading scores
(All players from the Chinese mainland unless stated)
141: Yang Hongmei 70-71
143: Shen Yanhua 74, 69
144: Shang Linyan 70, 74
146: Li Juan 75, 71, Zhang Lichun 71, 75, Yang Jincui 72, 74Nontaya Srisawang (Thailand) 74, 71, Yang Taoli 74, 71
147: Yan Panpan 76, 72, Narisara Kerdrit (Thailand) 76, 71,
148: He Hongling 75, 73, Ye Liying 75, 73
149: Lu Yuexia 77, 72, Li Wei 75, 74, Wen Tzu Hsuan (Chinese Taipei) 74
