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South Korea's Amy Yang shot a 2-under 69 on Friday to take a three-shot lead into the weekend at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The 27-year-old Yang, who fired a 63 Thursday on the TPC Kuala Lumpur's East Course, made pars in her first 10 holes in the second round before making an eagle on the par-4 11th when her approach landed on the front of the green and rolled in.
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"It was about 125 yards, like helping downwind. I hit my pitching wedge, just full pitching wedge to the pin and it came off really solid off the face," Yang said. "It looked like it was going to go really close but it went in. When the ball disappeared, I went, 'yay, finally.'"
Yang dropped a shot on the par-4 14th and parred the par-3 15th before play was delayed at 2:03 p.m. local time due to inclement weather in the area.
"I was getting a little frustrated about, you know, not making putts, and I was getting hungry," Yang said. "So I went back, ate lunch, and it actually gave me some time to thought about what was going on and think about the next three, how to finish, so it helped."
After returning to the course following an hour and 41- minute delay, Yang drained a long birdie putt to get to 10 under for the tournament.
"It was about 20 feet downhill, right-to-left," Yang said. "I just picked a spot and just trust there and make a solid putt."
Yang will be looking for her third career LPGA Tour victory and first since the 2015 Honda LPGA Thailand.
"I think it will be similar to like today," Yang said. "So you know, golf can be really easy like yesterday, but it can be also a little slow like today. So I'm just going to be patient, do my best. I've been practicing hard, so I'm just going to trust what I've been practicing."
Joining Yang in the final group on Saturday will be Candie Kung, an American professional of Taiwanese descent, and South Korean Mi Jung Hur, who shot matching rounds of 65 on Friday for the low round of the day.
Sweden's Anna Nordqvist is also tied for second at 7 under after a 68.
"The course is in as good of shape as I've seen it," Nordqvist said. "You know, I can only do what I can do, but I feel like I've been playing solid and hopefully can get a couple more putts to drop for the weekend. But just really happy and just taking it one day at a time."
American Michelle Wie followed up her opening 66 with a 70 to drop four strokes behind at 6 under. Wie is winless in 57 tournaments since the 2014 U.S. Women's Open, but she is coming off a season-best 10th-place tie last week in China.
New Zealand's Lydia Ko, ranked No. 1 in the world, struggled in the second round.
Ko closed bogey-double bogey for a 71, leaving her eight strokes back in a tie for 23rd at 2 under.
