XIAMEN, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese amateur golfer Yin Ruoning and rookie pro Liu Yiyi were tied for an equal third place after the second round of the Xiamen Orient Masters on Friday while South Korea's Lee Solar climbed to the top with a one shot lead.
The overnight leader, 16-year-old Yin finished the second round at 73 and her compatriot 17-year-old Liu at 70. Both of them are two strokes off the pace.
Liu put herself in contention when she made a birdie at the 140-yard 12th hole followed by an eagle at the next, a 500-yard par five. She couldn't, however, capitalize on her momentum as she then stumbled to bogey-birdie-bogey over the next three holes.
"At the 13th hole, after two shots that ball was on the edge of the green. I then chipped it 10 yards into the hole and got eagle. The mental steady is very important when I get the chances," said Liu.
Liu told Xinhua that something went wrong when she the got double bogey on the last hole. "I told myself to focus on my shot and not to think too much. I feel better today," Liu said. "For the final round, learning and getting experience would be the priority if I have the opportunity to play in the final group. I'd be lucky to grab the champion."
Lee Solar shot a second round of 67. Through 36 holes at Orient Xiamen Golf and Country Club, Lee was five-under 139 at the 800,000 yuan (116,000 US dollars) prize pot China LPGA Tour event. Thailand's Renuka Suksukont sits second, one shot behind after her second consecutive round of 70.
