Shin Takes Five-Shot Lead in Weather-Delayed Women's British Open


Jiyai Shin is in prime position to garner two straight wins. The 24-year-old followed up her opening 1-under 71 with a stellar 64 Saturday in the $2.75 million Women's British Open, a major championship on the LPGA Tour.

Shin stands at 9-under 135, five strokes ahead of fellow South Korean Inbee Park, who's posted rounds of 72 and 68 at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Hoylake, England.

Friday's second round was canceled due to winds in excess of 60 mph; all scores posted that day were ruled null and void by the Ladies Golf Union, thus forcing a re-start of the second round on Saturday.

Shin, who won last week's Kingmill Championship in an epic nine-hole sudden-death playoff against Paula Creamer, carded six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 10th hole for her 64.

"I chipped in from 30 yards for the eagle," said Shin, who began play on the 10th hole. "After that I felt really good and hit great shots at the next three holes to make birdies. I was bogey-free today and bunker free, so that was probably the best round I have ever played in a major."

Six shots back are Mika Miyazato of Japan and Australia's Karrie Webb, who both opened with 71 and 70. American Katie Futcher (71, 71) is in solo fifth at 142, while eight strokes behind Shin are Vicky Hurst, 15-year-old amateur Lydia Ko, Carin Koch, Ai Miyazato (no relation to Mika) and Jenny Shin.

"I'm surprised to be six shots behind at 3-under," Webb said of her position heading into the final 36 holes. "But I'm happy with the way I played and handled the golf course. Tomorrow I'll just try to narrow the gap and see how it goes."

"It would be nice to finish leading amateur, so tomorrow I'll try and play my best and take it one shot at a time," said Ko, a New Zealand resident who two weeks after winning August's U.S. Women's Amateur became the youngest LPGA winner in history at the Canadian Women's Open.

No. 1-ranked Yani Tseng is among six players at 144, while Creamer and fellow Americans Michelle Wie, Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel are among nine at 1-over 145.

Officials hope for a Sunday completion of the championship by playing 36 holes Sunday.

The cut was set at 5-over 149. Among those heading home are Swede's Anna Nordqvist and Maria Hjorth, American Brittany Lincicome, and Brit Karen Stupples, who started with a 76 before posting an 81 in the second round.

England's Laura Davies, who won the championship in 1986 before it became a major, withdrew after opening with an 80.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.aspx.