RAIN and thunder wrecked the ladies attire and make-up, but not their determination as United States golfers Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lang stole the thunder with a nine-under 133 total in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club yesterday.
The second round came to an abrupt stop for two hours, but continued under the KLGCC floodlights before the ladies packed off to get dolled up again for the official dinner.
Stacy fired six-under 65 yesterday, while Brittany had four-under 67 to share the leaderboard.
Following one stroke adrift were Dewi Claire of the Netherlands and Choi Na Yeon of South Korea on an eight-under 134 total.
Dewi had rounds of 66-68, while Choi also had identical scores to keep pace with the leaders.
World No 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan placed herself back into contention with a second round of four-under 67, and said she is looking forward to a full body massage after a hard day in office.
The pint-sized golfer had a 69 yesterday, but her three-consecutive birdies on the 12th, 13th and 14th made her among the golfers to watch going into the weekend.
She is now tied sixth, on a two round total on 136 -- just three strokes adrift of the leaders.
"I was just floating around as this is a very tough course with water at every hole. One can't make any mistakes here (KLGCC), but everything changed after the string of birdies.
She birdied the 18th just in time before play was stopped temporarily due to bad weather, and said it was great timing.
"I finished just at the right moment and it was great timing as I don't have to hang around the clubhouse. Now, I can go back to my hotel and have that full body massage that, oh I so need right now!"
Starting from the First Tee, She had a round of six birdies, and the unfortunate bogey holes were on the fifth and ninth.
Yani will be playing in Taiwan LPGA next week and hopes pressure does not undo her game.
"I'm very excited to play at home. My friends, my family, everybody is coming to support my. Like I say I will try to do my best and I want to win next week. So I will try not to put too much pressure on myself, and enjoy the crowd in Taiwan.
"I get much attention back home now, as when I walk on the street or when I go to restaurants, the people can recognise me and cheer for me, support me and say, oh, you did a good job! and we always root for you. That made me feel really good."
SELECTED SECOND RD SCORES -- 133 Stacy Lewis (US) 68-65, Brittany Lang (US) 66-66.
134 Choi Na Yeon (S Kor) 66-68, Dewi Claire (Ned) 66-68.
135 Azahara Munoz (Sp) 67-68; 136 Yani Tseng (Tai) 69-67, I.K. Kim (S Kor) 68-68, Michelle Wie (US) 68-68; 137 Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 68-69.
138 Paula Creamer (US) 71-67, Amy Kang (S Kor) 69-69; 139 Amanda Blumenherst (US) 70-69, Katie Futcher (US) 69-70, Catriona MAtthew (Scot) 70-69, Shin Jiyai (S Kor) 70-69.
140 Ai Miyazato (Jpn) 72-68, Pak Se Ri (S Kor) 72-68; 141 Jennifer Song (US) 74-67, Julieta Granada (PAra) 70-71, Amy Hung (Tai) 72-69, Ji WEun-Hee (S Kor) 72 69, Christel Boeljon (Ned) 68-73, Jimin Kang (S Kor) 69-72, Yoo Sun Young (S Kor) 70-71, Shanshan Feng (Ch) 68-73, Paige MacKenzie (US) 67-74.
...150 Kelly Tan (Mas) 77-73; 151 Aretha Pan (Mas) 75-76; 154 Jean Chua (Mas) 76-78; 156 Ainil Johani 76-80.
