 February 26, 2010 - American Angela Stanford and South Korean Song-Hee Kim share the 36-hole lead at 5-under-par 139 at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore. Stanford, who bogied the par-4 18th hole to drop into a tie with Kim, was one of four players who shared the first round lead at Tanah Merah Country Club.
The 32-year-old entered the week searching for a swing thought to cure her uncomfortable stroke. She made the turn at 3-under-par 33 on the day and added a fourth birdie on 10 before three bogies down the stretch. Stanford shot 1-under-par 71 on Friday to maintain a share of the lead entering Saturday’s third round play. A four-time Tour winner, Stanford crossed the US$4 million mark with her most recent victory at the 2009 SBS Open at Turtle Bay. She is just more than US$75,000 shy of eclipsing the US$5 million mark this week in Singapore.
The 21-year-old Kim carded four birdies and two bogies, all in her final 10 holes, to take a share of the lead at the 63-player event. Kim, who played in the final pairings on Sunday at last week’s Honda PTT LPGA Thailand, has a knack for being near the top of the leaderboard. In 2009, she eclipsed the $1 million mark in season earnings for the first time in her career on the heels of 12 top-10 finishes.
Stanford and Kim will play alongside Hee-Won Han (73-67=140, -4) in the final pairing on Saturday.
Age is just a number for Inkster. LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame member Juli Inkster may be the oldest player in the 2010 HSBC Women’s Champions field, but the 49-year-old certainly isn’t playing that way. Inkster is one of five players locked in a tie for third at 4-under-par 140 after two rounds of play at Tanah Merah Country Club. The 31-time LPGA winner carded back-to-back bogies on 17 and 18 after tying the lead earlier in the round. Her last victory came at the 2006 Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola, where she became the third player (at the time) to cross the $10 million mark in career earnings.
[Oldest winners on LPGA Tour
Beth Daniel, 2003 BMO Financial Group Canadian Women’s Open at 46 years, 8 months, 29 days
JoAnne Carner, 1985 SAFECO Classic at 46 years, 5 months, 11 days
Betsy King, 2001 LPGA Corning Classic at 45 years, 10 months, 18 days]
Last week’s Honda PTT LPGA Thailand champ Ai Miyazato and runner-up Suzann Pettersen are back in the mix this week at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore. Just five days ago, Miyazato’s final-round 63 was enough to defeat Pettersen, who entered the final round with a five-stroke lead and a six-shot advantage over Miyazato. Through 18 holes at Tanah Merah Country Club, the pair is locked in a tie for third with three others at 4-under-par. Miyazato is looking to become the first back-to-back winner since Lorena Ochoa won four consecutive events in 2008.
 Michelle Wie had another mediocre day out when she shot a one-over round to stand at +1 going into the weekend. She was seen at the range after her round and looked somewhat distressed at her driving. Still with mom and dad by her side and behind her, literally as well, there is every expectation that she might turn her game around come Saturday.
While Wie wonders what she can do to chalk up the birdies, Japanese idol Momoko Ueda didn't seem to have any problem scoring them on Friday. Starting from the back nine, she had a streak of five consecutive birdies before the ninth hole. Unfortunately, three consecutive bogeys on the front nine (second nine for her) brought her back to earth for a 68 (-1 total).
Of note… Lorena Ochoa’s 79 was the second-worst round of her career dating back to an 81 at the 2004 Wegmans LPGA… Hee-Won Han and Yani Tseng carded the low rounds of the week on Friday with 5-under-par 67’s… Defending champion Jiyai Shin is tied for 10th at 2-under-par 142… HSBC sponsors “Caddie Night” on the Friday evening of the HSBC Women’s Champions. Helen Alfredsson is set to host the third-annual caddy awards party.
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