(Singapore 4 February 2005) Charlotta Sörenstam from Sweden carded a course record eight under par 64 during the second round of the $200,000 Samsung Ladies Masters and is the nearest challenger to runaway leader Bo Bae Song from Korea, who tacked on a six under par 66 on to yesterday’s 65 and extended her lead to five shots.

Charlotta Sorenstam

“Normally when you get a good start it’s very difficult to maintain momentum over the next few days,” said Song, nicknamed BB by her peers.

“Today, although I was very tired and my muscles ached, I was fortunate to start with an eagle, as I did yesterday. From there I had some luck and everything went my way and that put me up in the lead.

“I played very well last year throughout the season, so tomorrow I am confident I can rely on my experience. I’ll just let the round play out and hopefully that will be another victory.”

However, high on Sörenstam’s wish list is another victory as it has been almost five years since she won the Standard Register PING event, her only professional victory.

“A win would mean a great deal, it’s been a while. Not only to win, but to play well again would be great,” said Sörenstam who was the epitome of consistency and played what many people would consider a perfect round.

“I hit every fairway and every green and I hit a few tight to the pin and I reached three out of four par fives and that helped.

“If I had hit 18 putts and been 18 under par, it would have been the perfect round!

“She (Song) seems to be playing really well. I had a little slow start and we’ll see what happens tomorrow. I’ll play my own game and see if that’s enough.”

After struggling for two seasons with a nagging shoulder injury, Sörenstam feels she has turned the corner and now that she can practice more and is beginning to find her confidence on the course, she has ambitious plans.

“I want to get my card back on the LPGA Tour and hopefully play well enough in the European events I am going to enter and maybe have a chance for The Solheim Cup,” she added.

“I’m planning on playing four or five events (in Europe) to try and qualify. I know that’s a long shot but in 1998 when I played Solheim it was great and I really want to do it again. I had so much fun.”

But pre-tournament favourite Laura Davies could not make a dent in Song’s lead and will hope for a dramatic turnaround in results to give her any chance of lifting her 67th career title.

“It was really hard work out there today and made a lot harder knowing that I was ten shots behind before I had even teed off,” said Davies, who was playing in the afternoon matches.

“Making up three shots is not enough in-roads and I think seven behind is too many to win it unless she has a blow-out, which she doesn’t show any signs of doing. So I feel I am playing for second place right now, which is disappointing.”

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