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South Korea’s Chun chases elusive first win of season

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Montreal: Chun In-Gee, a four-time runner up on the LPGA Tour in 2017, is poised to strike for a first victory after seizing the halfway lead in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open on Friday.


The South Korean had five birdies in a four-under par 67, and her eight-under total of 134 gave her a two-stroke lead over Americans Mo Martin, Brittany Lincicome and Marina Alex.


“I (had) a lot of seconds this year, but I think they were good memories for me and a good experience,” Chun said. “I think I’m ready to win.”


Chun said she’d struggled to read the greens at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club, but was able to line them


up better with some help from her caddie.


“I trusted my line and made it,” said Chun, whose four runner-up finishes this year include a playoff loss at the Manulife LPGA Classic — the first of the season’s two LPGA tournaments.


Alex, the first-round leader, slipped two off the pace with a one-under par 70.


Martin’s four-under par 67 included a stretch of four birdies in six holes on her back nine. Lincicome birdied two of her first four en route to a 67.


“The whole day was good,” Lincicome said. “I’m driving the ball pretty well. Some of these holes out here there are a lot of bunkers that are right in my way, right in my landing zone, so we’re kind of being a little more aggressive than I feel like we probably should be. But so far since I’m driving it well, we’re just going to keep doing it.”


A group of seven golfers, including world number one Ryu So-Yeon were a further stroke back on 137.


Ryu, who carded a 68, was joined by US veteran Cristie Kerr, Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen, Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong, England’s Holly Clyburn and American Stacy Lewis.


A foursome of golfers was a shot further back on 138, including Aussie Sarah Jane Smith, Spain’s Beatriz Recari, South Korean Park Sung-Hyun, China’s Feng Shanshan and American Jennifer Song.


Song holed out for an eagle at the 14th from 136 yards.


“I was just trying to decide if there was a breeze or not. Thankfully I had the right club and I hit it pretty perfect,” Song said. “I didn’t get to see the ball go in the hole because I was on the left side, but the crowd screamed, so obviously I knew it was something good there.” — AFP


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