Choi Hye-jin leads the tournament for the second consecutive day. [Photo=LPGA]
Choi Hye-jin leads the tournament for the second consecutive day. [Photo=LPGA]

Choi Hye-jin held the lead for the second consecutive day at the Buick LPGA Shanghai, the opening event of the LPGA Tour's Asian swing.

Choi shot a 2-over-par 74 on Friday at Seosan Country Club (par 72) in Shanghai, China, but her 36-hole total of 6-under-par 138 kept her two strokes clear of joint runners-up Yang Hee-young and Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand).

Choi had surged to a three-stroke lead after firing an 8-under-par round on Thursday, but gave back two strokes Friday with two birdies and four bogeys.

The course is known for its long par-4 holes and small, undulating greens, and with pin positions adding to the difficulty, only six players managed to finish under par on the day. Yang climbed into a tie for second with a 1-under-par 71, carding four birdies against three bogeys.

Erika Hara (Japan), a strong candidate for Rookie of the Year honors this season, held steady at even par to sit at 3-under 141 through 36 holes, joining Carlota Ciganda (Spain) and Rio Takeda (Japan) in a tie for fourth.

Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand), who won last year's edition in a five-hole playoff against Minami Katsu (Japan), carded a 1-over 73 to sit at 2-under 142, tied for seventh alongside Yin Ruoning (China). Thitikul claimed her fourth win of the season earlier this month at the Lotte Championship in Hawaii.


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