JI-YAI IN DRIVER'S SEAT

　　新浪体育讯　XIAMEN (China) Dec 15, 2007: Defending champion Shin-Ji-yai shot another round of 4-under 68 to claim a three-stroke lead in the second round of the USD250,000 Orient China Ladies Open.

　　The 19-year-old Korean lass has a two-round total of 136 which gives her a three-shot cushion against nearest contender Tseng Ya Ni of Chinese Taipei who signed out with a 2-under 70 for a 36-hole total of 139.

　　"It's nice to be in the lead going into the final round tomorrow. Aggression has been my style of play and I hope to pick up some strokes early in the game to stretch my lead and make it difficult of the nearest contenders to play a catching game," said Ji-yai, who posted birdies on the first, fifth, sixth, 12 th and 13th holes. Her sore point came on the 11th when she lost a stroke via three-putts.

　　She found it a lttle difficult on the greens by putting short of the cup on several ocassions. "Luckily, my caddy who has been working on this course for seven years gave me a lot tips and I also did find it a little difficult to read the grainy greens," Ji-yai said, adding that her identical 68 in the first two rounds were good and it will be better in the final round tomorrow.

　　Ya Ni, too experienced inferior putting on her outward stretch – missing a couple of close putt - inside three-feet. "I lost a little confidence and also found it difficult to read the greens," she said.

　　Neverheless, Ya Ni said she was going for broke. "I'll switch on the aggressive mode and try to even up with the leader to dent her confidence. It's not going to be easy but I'll give it my best try," she said.

　　Korea's Ji Eun-hee and Ahn Sun-ju occupy the third and fourth positions while China's Zhang Na who shot identical 71 yesterday and today, kept herself within striking distance and is tied fifth with day one leader Kim Bo-kyung, Choi He-young, Sin Eun-jung and Lim Eun-A. The quintet has a two-round total of 142.

　　"With a six-stroke deficit against the leader, I'll guess I'll have to start making birdies from the first hole to catch up with the leaders. I hope I would not slip-up," she said.

　　Sixty players including two amateurs made the cut for the final round tomorrow.