NINGBO, China, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Ren Yijia did just enough at the Orient Ningbo Challenge as the Dalian teenager golfer carded a two-under 70 in cold conditions to maintain a one-shot lead through two rounds.
With the on-course temperature ranging from minus 1 to 5 degrees centigrade at Orient (Ningbo) Sports Resort Club, the 16-year-old Chinese amateur was three-under 140 after 36 holes in the hunt for her fourth CLPG Tour title.
Shi Yuli also shot two-under 70 to sit second in the no-cut field as the veteran looks for her second CLPG Tour win in as many months. Fellow pro Yin Xiaowen was four strokes off the pace in third after improving to a one-under 71.
Thailand's Kornkamol Sukaree (72) and Chinese Taipei's Chen Yuju (69) were tied for equal fourth with Wang Zixuan (71) at six shots back.
Ren, who went into the day with a one-shot lead, came out firing in opening with back-to-back birdies to get to three-under. After a bogey four at the 138-yard eighth hole, she quickly rebounded with a birdie at the next to make the turn at three-under.
She would pick up another stroke at the 508-yard 10th hole, before making a double-bogey six at the 12th hole to sit even with playing partner Shi at two-under.
Down the stretch she would card birdies at the 15th and 17th holes to open up a two-shot lead, before dropping a stroke with a bogey five after three-putting the green on the final hole.
"Hole 18 was definitely frustrating. You felt sad with a bogey at the last hole. But playing in the last group today was great. The atmosphere was wonderful and the spectators applauded the good shots from both Shi Yuli and me. I felt very relaxed out there," said Ren, 65th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
"Tomorrow, I just want to keep the same mindset and stick to the game plan I prepared during the practice rounds. I certainly won't feel any pressure. If Shi Yuli and I end up competing head-to-head, whether I win or lose, the winner's prize money will go to her."
Shi, who won the CLPG Tour Championship last month on the way to becoming the inaugural points ranking champion, stayed close to the lead or tied for the lead throughout the early going when she carded four birdies over the first 10 holes. After posting back-to-back bogeys starting from the 11th hole, she could never mount a challenge to Ren in closing with six straight pars.
"My iron play on the front nine today was probably the best I've hit recently. Very straight and solid. I was really satisfied with it. But on the back nine, I had some problems with club selection. On the last few holes, I was constantly scrambling to save par where my club choices might not have been ideal. Still, overall, I felt my form was quite good," said the 23-year-old Beijing native, the younger sister of JLPGA Tour regular Shi Yuting.
"I've played in the final group before, but I haven't won a tournament from that position yet. I hope tomorrow I can break through in that regard. After winning my first title, my dad and older sister talked to me a lot. They encouraged me and said more wins would follow. Now I'm really looking forward to that second victory."
Yin, who holds partial playing status on the LPGA Tour and its secondary Epson Tour, carded four birdies and three bogeys to stay in the mix, but lamented missed opportunities at the 428-yard 16th hole where she has been four-over par through the first two rounds.
"Yesterday was a triple bogey, today a bogey. Tomorrow, I'll definitely aim for a birdie. I'm satisfied with sinking several mid-range birdie putts today. There were no mistakes with my driver. Overall, it was a solid day," said the Tianjin native, a three-time winner on the CLPG Tour as an amateur.
"I'm not thinking about competing for the title. The key is to stay calm and focus on playing shot by shot. I'm always trying to stay positive now, especially on a course like this. I believe giving myself more encouragement rather than being too harsh will help me perform well tomorrow."
Beijing native Liu Wenbo withdrew from competition, citing injury. ■
