XIAMEN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Asian Games golfer Yin Ruoning set the early pace at the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Orient Masters on Thursday as the Chinese amateur opened with a round of four-under 68 for a two stroke lead in the coastal city of Xiamen in southern China.
Starting her early morning round in wet and windy conditions at Orient Xiamen Golf Country Club, Yin, a 16-year-old who plays out of Shanghai's Lake Malaren Golf Club, continued to impress against a pro field. Two months after helping China to the team bronze at the Asian Games in Jakarta, the teenager came out firing with five birdies through the first 13 holes.
She then dropped her only stroke, a bogey five at the 397-yard 14th hole, before playing par golf back to the clubhouse. "I felt the strong wind at the 14th hole. After the second shot there was 190 yards left and I missed the green. The ball fell to the right of the green. One chip, one putt and I got [a] bogey there," said Yin, who finished joint third at the CLPGA Zhuhai Heritage in June.
"My putting was very hot today, that's the key to being in this position. I will keep going and focus on my game tomorrow," said Yin. Chinese pros Ren Yue and Li Jiayun were second after rounds of 70 at the 800,000 yuan (116,000 US dollars) China LPGA Tour event.
Li, a two-time winner on the CLPGA Tour and an Asian Games veteran who captained China to a team silver medal at the 2010 Asiad in Guangzhou, overcame two earlier bogeys to finish strongly with three birdies over the last six holes to remain in contention.
"I'm familiar with this course. It's my 10th year coming here. My caddie is a local and we work together. I trust the caddie's rich experience and recognition of the greens," Li told Xinhua.
One shot further back on 71 was the Chinese trio of Liu Yiyi, Tian Hong and Zhang Jienalin in a group that included New Zealander Munchin Keh and Thai Wanchana Poruangrong.
Notable scores included Shi Yuting, a three-time winner on the CLPGA Tour who opened with a 73, the same score as her younger sister, 16-year-old rookie pro Shi Yuli. Chinese veteran Ye Liying, playing in her first tournament after a year-long break from golf, carded five birdies during an adventurous round where she finished on 76.
