Ryu Jumps into Lead in Malaysia as Lewis Falls Back


So Yeon Ryu followed up a 5-under 66 with a 65 to take the 36-hole lead in the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia. The $2 million event started Thursday at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

The 24-year-old got off to a solid start with five birdies in her first seven holes. Though the 2011 U.S. Women's Open champion and three-time winner cooled off from there, Ryu reached 11-under 131, two strokes ahead of fellow South Korean Eun-Hee Ji (67), Japan's Ayako Uehara (63), England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff (64) and New Zealand's Lydia Ko (64).

Tied for sixth at 134 are Spain's Azahara Munoz (65), China's Shanshan Feng (67) and Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum (67).

"I'm very suited for this golf course I think, especially front nine." Ryu said. "I shot 5-under through seven holes, so, you know, the kind of thing just make me more easy."

Ironically, Ryu cooled off later in her round due to the increasing heat in Malaysia. "(The) thing is it's really hot today, so back nine my energy level was so low so my game wasn't enough great if I compared to front nine. But still, 66 and 65 is good score for under my belt, so I'm pretty happy with it."

Uehara simply stayed hot all day long. The 29-year-old had five birdies on the front nine and three more on the back to record Friday's low round. "My putting was so good." Uehara said. "I made many birdies and I had a chip in, too. So good round today."

No. 3-ranked Ko soared up the leaderboard off a seven-birdie outing. With a victory this week and No. 1 Stacy Lewis finishing tied for 12th or lower, Ko can take over the top spot in the Rolex Rankings.

"To me it's more important trying my best and getting good results at tournaments than being the No. 1 in the world." The 17-year-old said. "I guess when you play consistently well you're going to be up there in the world rankings anyway."

South Koreans Chella Choi (66) and Jenny Shin (68) share ninth at 7-under.

Lewis began the day with the lead after opening with a 65, but the 29-year-old couldn't keep pace with the others, carding an even-par 71 to drop into a tie for 11th at 6-under.

Also at 136 are South Koreans Ilhee Lee (66), Mi Hyang Lee (69) and Na Yeon Choi (70), Scotland's Catriona Matthew (68) and Americans Gerina Piller (67) and Angela Stanford (67).

Defending champion Lexi Thompson followed up her opening 71 with a 73 and is well down the leaderboard at 2-over 144 and tied for 56th.

There's no halfway cut in the tournament. No. 2-ranked Inbee Park is not playing this week as she's back in her home country of South Korea making wedding preparations.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.