Chinese amateur leads scoreboard at Shanghai Classic golf

Shanghai - Chinese amateur Shi Yuting put herself in contention to capture her first China LPGA Tour title on Friday when she fired her second consecutive round of 70 for a two-shot lead at the Shanghai Classic.

The 15-year-old Beijing native shot a bogey-free round for a score of four-under 140 through 36 holes, leading fellow Chinese amateur Liu Yu (72) in the $50,000 tournament, the opening event of the fifth CLPGA season, reports Xinhua.

Sichuan native Yang Taoli (74) was three shots off the pace in equal third at the Orient (Shanghai) Sports and Country Club with Thais Ajira Nualraksa (69) and Walailak Satarak (75).

Thailand’s defending champion Rungthiwa Pangjan (71) was a shot further back in a group with Chinese amateur Wang Ziyi (73) and Shang Linyan (74).

Shi, the runner-up to Liu at last year’s Chongqing Challenge, played a conservative round with birdies on the first and 10th holes, the latter being a putt that dropped from 30 feet.