Ryu leads by four after second-round 61 in Australian Ladies Masters

GOLD COAST, Australia -- Reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion So Yeon Ryu shot an 11-under 61 on Friday to take a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the Australian Ladies Masters.
 
Ryu, who had 12 birdies and a bogey at Royal Pines, had a two-round total of 17-under 127 after an opening 66.
 
The South Korean’s score would have tied the course record held by seven-time Ladies Masters champion Karrie Webb, but it will not go in the books due to the lift, clean and place rule in effect on the fairways because of the wet course after to recent rain.

Before Friday, Ryu marked her balls with “62” to represent her career-low round. Now she will be remarking them.
 
“Finally I can change the number,” Ryu said. “The last shot I was really, really nervous, but I made it, so now I’m really looking forward to the last two rounds.”
 
Christel Boeljon finished birdie-birdie-eagle to shoot a 65, putting her in second place. The Dutchwoman’s 3 on the par-5 18th came on a 50-foot putt.
 
“It’s a great feeling, great way to end my round,” Boeljon said.
 
First-round leader Lee Bo-mee (69) and Nikki Campbell (67) were tied for third, seven strokes behind Ryu. Diana Luna and American Amelia Lewis each shot a 64 for fifth place along with Felicity Johnson (68), eight strokes behind.
 
Among the other Americans in the field, Lexi Thompson is tied for ninth after rounds of 67 and 70, while Beth Allen is tied for 18th place. Katie Futcher is tied for 24th, with Irene Cho in a small group knotted in 31st place. Amanda Blumenherst is tied for 33rd with Christina Kim tied for 60th place.

Incredibly, Rye was 1 over after two holes on Friday after bogeying the par-4 second, but she then embarked on a remarkable run that brought her 12 birdies in the remaining 16 holes.

Ryu, who shot a blemish-free opening-round 66, bounced back from her bogey on No. 2 with successive birdies in the next five holes before turning in 31. The 21-year-old then came back in 30 after further birdies on the 11th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th and 18th.

Lydia Ko, the 14-year-old amateur from New Zealand, followed up her 2-under-par round of 70 on Thursday with a 69 on Friday to leave her on 5 under for the tournament. She became the youngest winner of a professional tour event with victory in the New South Wales Open last week.

Earlier on Friday, three players were disqualified for unknowingly breaching rules on the preferred lies. A rules official from the co-sanctioning Ladies European Tour said Corie Hou, Inhong Lim and amateur Annie Choi were disqualified after playing one hole of their second round.
 
The players, who were in the same group, said they had misinterpreted a local ruling during their first round which allowed preferred lies on fairways but not in the rough. Choi had an opening-round 2-under 70, five strokes behind first-round leader Lee. Lim shot 80 and Hou had an 81.
 
The 16-year-old Choi said they had misunderstood what the starter said before they teed off.
 
“I’m devastated but I accept it,” said Choi, who said the group had been told the preferred lies were in place “everywhere” and took that to include the rough.
 
The threesome had played only one hole of their second round when the rule breach was reported to LET Operations Director Cyprien Comoy. All three admitted to taking preferred lies in the rough the first round and were disqualified because it meant they had signed incorrect scorecards.
 
“It was a surprise to them, certainly,” Comoy said. “The girls accepted the decision. It is not a pleasant thing but a harsh lesson learned. We accept it was a genuine mistake.”