Thailand's Pavarisa takes lead at CTBC Ladies Open

Thailand's Pavarisa Yoktuan carded a bogey-free round of five-under 67 on Friday to open up a one-shot lead through two rounds of the CTBC Ladies Open in Chinese Taipei.

Playing under hot conditions, Pavarisa, the overnight co-leader, was at 12-under 132 in the tournament. Fellow Thai Budsbakorn Sukapan, one of the three overnight co-leaders, was one stroke back after a 68, while China's Shi Yuting shot a 64 to tie the Orient (Taipei) Golf and Country Club course record to sit equal third with Chinese Taipei's Hsu Wei-long (68) and Cheng Ssu-chia (68) at four strokes off the pace.

Pavarisa, winner of last year's Wuhan Challenge, put herself in contention for her second China LPGA Tour victory when she carded a flawless round that featured five birdies. Starting the day from the 10th hole, the Nakhon Si Thammarat native took the outright lead when she sank a 20-foot putt for birdie on the eighth hole (her 17th hole).

"I just want to play my best tomorrow. I have put two good rounds together and the confidence is good. But with this course, if there is no wind anybody can hit like seven, eight under," said the 21-year-old.

"Tomorrow I am playing with Budsbakorn and she is a good player who drives really well. I'm a good driver too, so it will come down to putting. But I won't be thinking about her, just play my own game."

Budsabakorn, an 18-year-old who led the Thai women's team to the gold medal at last year's Asian Games, winning the individual silver medal for herself, got her game going on the back nine with four birdies after being even-par through the front nine.

"It's good today, but I missed some short putts," said the rookie pro, winner of the Srixon XXIO Ladies Open in May. "I just wanted to be better today, but the putting wasn't as good as yesterday."

Chinese teen star Shi roared into contention with a round of eight-under 64, matching her lowest score in a tournament. Her round included nine birdies, including five straight starting at hole No. 11. She then dropped her only shot of the day with a bogey five at the 17th hole.

"I wasn't happy with the way I played yesterday [when she shot even-par 72]. But I have my dad caddying for me and he told me to relax and just to play like the way I know I can play," said the 17-year-old Beijinger. "It was a bit of a disappointment to get a bogey at the end of my round as I could have set a new personal best for lowest round. But overall, I'm very happy with my play today."

South African Monique Smit also shot a 64 to tie the Orient (Taipei) course record to get to six-under. Overnight co-leader Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras of Thailand could only muster an even-par 72 in the second round to sit seven-under, five shots back. Chinese Taipei's Wu Yi-ching (73) was the top amateur at one-under. Endite