YANGS SET FOR FINAL ROUND BATTLE AT WENZHOU

　　新浪体育讯　（August 16, 2007）Yang Hongmei maintained a slim one-stroke lead after the second round of the US$50,000 Orient Masters Wenzhou today with Sichuan-province compatriot Yang Taoli in hot pursuit in search of her first victory as a pro.

　　With a strong wind blowing over the mountainous Wenzhou Orient Yangyi Country Club, overnight leader Yang Hongmei carded a two-over 74 for a 36-hole aggregate score of one-under 143.

　　Yang Taoli shot her second consecutive round of even-par 72 to sit alone in second. Chinese compatriots Shen Yanhua (69) and Wang Chun (69) were three off the pace, followed by Ye Liying (71) and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum (74) a shot further back.

　　Yang Hongmei, who started the day with a three-stroke lead, birdied the par-five fourth hole to go to four-under. Disaster then struck when she carded a double bogey six at the sixth hole, followed by bogey five on the seventh.

　　“Today was not very good,” said the former caddie who is in search of her first victory since coming back from maternity leave early this year. “At six I drove into the rough and had 125 yards uphill with a sideways lie to the green. I used an eight iron and the ball landed on a bank at the edge of the green. I had an awkward stance so I ended up with double. On the seventh, I drove into the rough on the right and then over-chipped the green.”

　　After a birdie on the 10th to go to two-under, Yang three-putted the 16th for a bogey five.

　　“I didn’t feel very well today. I felt I might be exhausted from the heat. I couldn’t breathe and I didn’t have a good rest last night. But I will try my best to win this tournament.”

　　In contrast, Yang Taoli, who has finished runner-up in each of the first three legs of the Orient Masters Tour, finished strongly as she chipped in on the 17th hole from 20 yards out for a birdie.

　　“Every leg I have made progress and I need a breakthrough tomorrow,” said the first-year pro. “At the beginning of this round I was my rushing my shots and double bogeyed at the fifth and bogeyed the eighth. But at the turn I calmed down and I thought I had a chance and it was an opportunity I had to take advantage of. I need to shoot one-under to win tomorrow,” she predicted.

　　China’s Wang Chun and Shen both charged up the leader board today with their 69s, the low rounds of the day. After both opened with rounds of 77 yesterday, the pair sat three off the lead.

　　Wang, who won the 2007 China Unicom World Trend Cup Pro-Am in June to end a 3 ½year victory drought, closed with consecutive birdies, two of four she had on the day against a lone bogey.

　　“I am very happy to finish with two birdies. I had a lot of good shots today. I thought I could make more birdies. My game was good all round and I saved two nice pars,” said the Beijinger who will compete on the Japan Step Up development tour for three months starting in September. “I just need to go for the pins tomorrow and put it in. That’s my target.”

　　The Orient Masters Wenzhou is a China Golf Association-sanctioned event.

　　Wenzhou Orient Yangyi Country Club is a par-72, 6,316 layout designed by T.K. Pen in southern Zhejiang province.

　　Orient Golf will be sending your media organization a daily write-up on the action from Wenzhou on each of the three days of the tournament. Any coverage you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

　　For any media enquiries or photos, please contact:

　　Frank Chen at golfstudioasia@gd165.com

　　Phone: (86) 13066888066

　　Orient Masters Wenzhou second round leading scores

　　143: Yang Hongmei (CHN) 69-74

　　144: Yang Taoli (CHN) 72-72

　　146: Shen Yanhua (CHN) 77-69, Wang Chun (CHN) 77-69

　　147: Ye Liying (CHN) 76-71, Pornanong Phatlam (THA) 73-74

　　149: Pimpadsorn Sangkagaro (THA) 77-72, Porani Chutichai (THA) 72-77, Zhang Lin (CHN) 75-74, He Hongling (CHN) 75-74, Chen Guanbei (TWN) 79-70

　　150: Lu Yuexia (CHN) 76-74

　　151: Wang Li (CHN) 74-77