Chen cards career-best round in CTBC title defence

GUANGZHOU, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Chen Yu-ju left no doubt that she is out to successfully defend her CTBC Ladies Classic title this week as the Chinese Taipei veteran opened with a seven-under 65 on Thursday for a three-stroke lead at Dragon Lake Golf Club.

A year after setting a CLPGA Tour record with eight birdies in nine holes during second round play, the 21-year-old Kaohsiung native caught fire again when she carded nine birdies and a double bogey at the 800,000 yuan tournament co-sanctioned with the TLPGA.

China's Zhang Jienalin, South Africa's Connie Chen and Thailand's Trichat Cheenglab were equal second on four-under 68. Hwang Ye-na and Na-Hee-won of South Korea were equal fifth after a 69, tied with China's Du Mohan and Liu Yiyi, Chinese Taipei's Peng Chieh, Japan's Mina Nakayama and Thai Dolnapa Phudthipinij at four strokes back.

After starting her early morning round on the Dragon Lake back nine, Chen Yu-ju quickly got to two-under after consecutive birdies starting at the second hole (the 11th hole).

Following a double-bogey seven at her fifth hole (the 14th hole), where she three-putted after her third shot had landed short of the green and her fourth shot was past the pin, Chen Yu-ju rebounded for a birdie at the next before picking up another shot at the ninth (the 18th hole). On her back nine (the front nine), she picked it up with five birdies, including four consecutive from her 13th hole (the fourth), for her career-best round.

"I made a mistake (on the 14th hole) but quickly forgot what happened and moved on. I made two birdies before that terrible hole and told myself I was even now and would re-start everything," said Chen Yu-ju who only needed 24 putts, including 11 after the turn.

"I will give it my best effort tomorrow. Three-under will be a minimum pass mark for me. This is the first day there is a lot of golf to play."

Henan native Zhang overcame a shaky start where she made a bogey five at the 375-yard second only to play solid the rest of the way in picking up five birdies.

"At the sixth tee I gave myself a little talk that I ought to have confidence in my game. If your game is in the right shape you hit it with strong self-belief and could reach the target that you want," said the 22-year-old who will play on the Japan second-tier circuit this year. "My iron play was definitely much better after that and I gave myself a lot of chances. I converted some of them."

Playing in her first CLPGA Tour event of the year, Connie Chen carded a bogey-free round on the strength of hitting 13 of 14 fairways.

"I am doing other things now over here. I'm coaching a bit more, don't play as much anymore, so coming out here is a bit like a holiday for me," said the Guangzhou-based veteran who won on the Ladies European Tour in 2014.

"(Tomorrow) just go out there and keep playing. To be honest, when I came out this week and played the two practice rounds I wasn't striking my irons that well. Somehow I found a bit of something that got it going today."

Du who was playing in the same group as leader Chen Yu-ju, said she told the defending champion that she had become a fan as she watched her birdie barrage up close. Her own round included four birdies and a bogey at the 165-yard par-three 13th hole (her fourth hole).

"She (Chen Yu-ju) committed to her putting and played well. I don't think that her great round ends our hopes. There are two days to play, there are some possibilities," said Du, a 17-year-old rookie pro who finished equal third in Zhuhai.

"I like the ways we played. We were mutually encouraged during the round and made plenty of birdies out there. Hopefully such a good relationship will go on. We do our best and let go of the outcome."

Chinese Taipei's Chang Tzu-yi and Wu Chia-yen were the top amateurs after both shot 70 to sit equal 12th.

Dragon Lake Golf Club is a par 72, 6,518-yard layout designed by Dick Davidson.