Lang sits atop on day 2 of KEB Hana Bank Championship
Brittany Lang of the United States watches her shot on the third hole during the second round of the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship golf tournament at Sky72 Golf Club in Incheon, Friday. / AP-Yonhap
By Kim Jeong-kyoo
Brittany Lang of the United States had a bogey-free 7-under-par 65 to sit atop the leaderboard on day two of LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship, Friday. Her overall two-day score amounts to a 10-under-par 134.
Alison Lee fired a 2-under-par 70, failing to hold off her compatriot Lang. She ended the second day with a 2-under-par 70.
Lee struggled in the back nine. She first bogeyed the par-4 10th. She had difficulty making solid putting strokes. She appeared too cautious. Outwardly, she lost her confidence in her ability to make putts.
Analyzing Lee’s lovely swing, she makes a typical one-plane golf swing. She addresses the ball with her rear end stuck out. Her spine tilted forward toward the ball and club shaft form a nearly 90-degree angle. She does not raise her hands high above her right shoulder on the backswing. At the top, her left arm rests in line with her shoulder line. She hits the ball against her firm left side. She straightens her left leg through her shot. Importantly, she finishes her swing with her right shoulder closer to the target than other parts of her body. If amateur golfers refer to her hand position at the top of the backswing and her finish position, they will hit their ball longer and straighter.
On the second day, Korean golf fans had a keen interest in how their fellow countrywomen golfers would bounce back. Yang Hee-young, Jang Ha-na, Kim Sei-young, Ryu So-yeon and Park Sung-hyun, to name a few, were the favorites who failed to begin well as expected.
Park hit a 7-under-par 65. She hit her approach shots close to the holes, leaving her in position to birdie almost every hole. She birdied nine holes, suffering two painful bogeys at par-3 8th and par-4 11th holes with a lapse of concentration.
Catching the golf fans’ eye was the brilliant play of Christie Kerr of the U.S., who fired a bogey-free 7-under-par 65. She tied for third on 7-under par with Park.
Kim In-kyung and Cho Jeong-min, the two best Korean players on Thursday, ended the second round with a 2-under-par 70 and 1-under-par 71 respectively. Kim tied fifth with Karine Icher of France, placing her four shots behind the leader. Cho tied seventh with her compatriots Kim Min-sun and Ji Eun-hee, defending champion Lexi Thompson of the U.S., Minjee Lee of Australia and Carlota Ciganda of Spain.
The top world player Lydia Ko having carded a 3-over-par, 75, to match her highest round of the season hit a 3-under-par 69. She had an overall score of an even-par 144. She stays 10 shots behind the leader.
Chun In-gee, who has mathematically clinched the 2016 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Award, tied 33rd with five others. She hit an even-par 72 to sit 10 shots behind the leader.
Korean amateur Seong Eun-jeong had a 6-under-par 66.
Kim Jeong-kyoo is a Korea Times golf columnist. He can be reached at kimjstar@hanmail.net