Thai golfer Renuka extends lead in Philippines

MANILA, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Renuka Suksukont opened up a four stroke lead during second round play of the ICTSI Philippine Ladies Masters on Friday as the Thai carded birdies on four of her last five holes in Laguna province.

The 22-year-old fired a two-under 70 at The Country Club to get to five-under 139 through 36 holes. The 80,000-US-dollar tournament is co-sanctioned by the China LPGA Tour, Ladies Philippine Golf Tour and TLPGA.

Chihiro Ikeda (70) was the top Filipina at the first CLPGA Tour event played in the Philippines, tied for equal second with Thais Wanchana Poruangrong (70) and Chonlada Chayanun (68).

Liu Yan (72) was the leading Chinese player in equal fifth at five strokes off the pace. She was in a group that included amateurs Kwang Min-jeong (73) of South Korea, and Hung Jo-hua (73) and Wu Yi-ching (73), both of Chinese Taipei.

Overnight leader Renuka started her day on the back nine of the Tom Weiskopf-designed layout with a one stroke lead and quickly got to work with a birdie at the 10th hole (her first hole) to get to four-under. After seven consecutive pars, she then stumbled to consecutive bogeys starting at the 18th hole (her ninth hole), followed by another dropped shot at the third hole (her 12th hole).

Sitting at one-under, the 22-year-old rebounded for four birdies over her last five holes, including three straight to finish.

"The score today is like a roller coaster. My putts are good, irons so-so, the drivers on the back nine are bad," said the Phatum Thani native.

"I am looking for win at an event outside Thailand. Maybe nine or 10 under will win, I think. I will be steady tomorrow."

Veteran Ikeda, winner of last month's ICTSI Forrest Hills Ladies Challenge, also started on the back nine and temporarily led the tournament at three-under after posting consecutive birdies from the third hole (her 12th hole). She then carded consecutive bogeys starting at the sixth hole (her 15th hole).

"I played well on the first 14 holes but I three-putted the sixth hole and missed a long put on the seventh," said the 26-year-old Davao City native, the individual star at the 2009 Southeast Asian Games where she led the Philippines to the team title.

"Today is good but my legs are sore and tired. Tomorrow I will try my best, I won't think too much about being champion."

China national team player Liu kept in contention when the 19-year-old posted her second straight even-par round after starting from the 10th hole. She finished her round with consecutive birdies from the eighth hole (her 17th hole).

"Actually, the result could be better," said the Fujian native who has qualified for the US Women's Open the past two years. "I had three-putts on holes six and 11, which are both par threes, and my ball dropped in the water on holes two and 10. I made lots of mistakes. Tomorrow, I will try to avoid these mistakes."

The Country Club is a 6,303-yard, par-72 layout designed by Tom Weiskopf. Enditem