Friday, February 25, 2011

Tseng falls eight shots back in LPGA Singapore tourney

Taipei, Feb. 25 (CNA) World No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan has won all four tournaments she's played in this year, but she'll need to dig herself out of her deepest hole of the season if she wants to make it five in a row this weekend in Singapore.

Tseng, coming off wins in Australia and Thailand the past three weeks, struggled to an even-par 72 that left her eight shots behind Japan's Chie Arimura after the second round of the LPGA Tour's HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore Friday.

She overcame a seven-shot deficit to win her season opener, the Ladies Taifong Open in Taiwan in mid-January, but the field in Singapore is considerably stronger, making her chances of a comeback less likely.

Tseng enjoyed a solid start and finish to her round Friday but hurt herself with consecutive bogies at the ninth, 10th, and 11th holes.

She ended up tied for eighth with Morgan Pressel of the United States with a two-round total of 142.

Arimura, who made six birdies and an eagle Friday, shot the low round of the day with a 66 to lead all players at 10-under-par.

Two shots back in second was Australia's Karrie Webb, who also shot a 66 at the Tanah Merah Country Club. Sun Young Yoo of South Korea was another two shots behind in third.

Tseng had started the day tied for third just two shots behind Arimura and had a promising start by birdieing the first and fourth holes, but her struggles in the middle of the round left her unable to pressure the 23-year-old Japanese.

The 22-year-old Taiwanese star came into the tournament as the hottest player in the women's game, with victories at the Australian Women's Open, the ANZ Ladies Masters and the Honda LPGA Thailand the past three weeks.

Taiwan's Candie Kung shot a 2-under-par 70 Friday to finish tied for 12th with an even par 144, and compatriot Amy Hung shot her second 73 of the week to find herself in a tie for 26th. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ls