World number one Yani Tseng shot a six under par 66 on Saturday for a three shot lead going into the final round of the Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open in China.

Tseng’s second round, played in misty, damp conditions at Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club near Shanghai, contained seven birdies and one bogey for a 10 under par total of 134.

The 22-year-old from Chinese Taipei was three clear of Pernilla Lindberg from Sweden, who also played in the afternoon. Lindberg shot a bogey-free round of seven under 65 to tie the course record set in 2008 by Annika Sorenstam and Ye Li Ying.

Caroline Hedwall shot 69 to end one shot further back, along with Becky Brewerton (71), Giulia Sergas (70), Beth Allen (68), Lee-Anne Pace (70) and Kylie Walker (70) at six under overall.

Tseng trailed Brewerton by a shot overnight but went to the turn in 34 to grab a six-way share of the lead. She pulled a stroke clear at the 11th and, shadowed by a large and vociferous supporting gallery, moved further ahead with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 16th holes.

Today we got really lucky because it was raining all morning, so lucky me to play in the afternoon,” Tseng said after her round.

“I played really good today. I was disappointed on the last hole I didn’t make birdie. I had a four-iron for the second shot, but I missed a two-footer putt today, on number two, I had a three-putt, but I mean, everything was really good and I’m very happy now.”

Tseng has notched 10 victories including two major championships in her fourth year on tour and is highly favoured to win the title, but did not want to get ahead of herself.  

“It’s going to be like today. I’m going to work out tomorrow morning, stretch a little bit and get ready for the tournament. I’m in a very good position and I think I’ve just got to enjoy it.

“It’s a big crowd today and tomorrow I will enjoy the crowd, be patient and play one shot at a time and see what happens,” she said.  

Lindberg, in her second year on tour, will be playing for her first victory as a professional after carding seven birdies in her second round.

“It’s always hard to repeat a round like that. Of course I feel good about my game and a lot better about my putting. My confidence is high going into tomorrow so I’ll see what I can do,” Lindberg said.

She has been paired with Tseng and fellow Swede Hedwall for the final round, starting at 11.10am local time and added: “Every time you play with a great player, it’s a great experience and you learn to handle it better. I’m looking forward to it.”

Suzhou Taihu Ladies Open

Suzhou Taihu International Golf Club (par 72)

28-30th October, 2011

Scores at the end of round 2:

134 – Yani Tseng (TPE) 68 66

137 – Pernilla Lindberg (SWE) 72 65

138 – Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 69 69, Becky Brewerton (WAL) 67 71, Giulia Sergas (ITA) 68 70, Beth Allen (USA) 70 68, Lee-Anne Pace (SA) 68 70, Kylie Walker (SCO) 68 70

139 – Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) 72 67, Vikki Laing (SCO) 70 69, Ursula Wikstrom (FIN) 72 67

140 – Nikki Garrett (AUS) 70 70, Klara Spilkova (CZE) 70 70, Sophie Giquel-Bettan (FRA) 72 68, Melissa Reid (ENG) 71 69, Narisara Kerdrit (THA) 74 66, Florentyna Parker (ENG) 74 66

141 – Christine Song (USA) 71 70, Lisa Holm Sorensen (DEN) 68 73, Laura Davies (ENG) 71 70, Becky Morgan (WAL) 71 70, Hei-Ji Kim (KOR) 71 70, Russamee Gulyanamitta (THA) 71 70, Anne-Lise Caudal (FRA) 70 71

142 – Tan Ling Ling (CHN) 69 73, Jaclyn Sweeney (USA) 70 72, Veronica Zorzi (ITA) 69 73, Yan Jing (Am) (CHN) 72 70, Karen Lunn (AUS) 70 72, Felicity Johnson (ENG) 71 71, Guo Cai Zhu (CHN) 71 71, Kim Welch (USA) 72 70, Minea Blomqvist (FIN) 72 70

143 – Louise Larsson (SWE) 72 71, Nontaya Srisawang (THA) 70 73, Christel Boeljon (NL) 74 69, Tiffany Tavee (USA) 70 73, Kaisa Ruuttila (FIN) 71 72, Jenni Kuosa (FIN) 70 73, Patcharajutar Kongkraphan (THA) 74 69, Yang Tao Li (CHN) 72 71

144 – Line Vedel (DEN) 68 76, Walailak Satarak (USA) 71 73, Tian Hong (CHN) 73 71, Lu Yue Xia (CHN) 70 74

145 – Joanna Klatten (FRA) 74 71, Chien Pei Yun (TPE) 72 73, Zhang Yu Yang (CHN) 71 74, Ashleigh Simon (SA) 73 72, Titiya Plucksataporn (THA) 76 69, Wang Xin (CHN) 75 70, Zhong Xiao Long (CHN) 71 74, Sophie Sandolo (ITA) 73 72, Lin Xiyu (CHN) 72 73

146 – Clare Queen (SCO) 73 73, Ye Na Chung (KOR) 73 73, Stacy Lee Bregman (SA) 69 77, Kristie Smith (AUS) 73 73, Tania Elosegui (ESP) 74 72, Dewi Claire Schreefel (NL) 75 71, Adriana Zwanck (ESP) 73 73, Morgana Robbertze (SA) 76 70, Frances Bondad (AUS) 75 71, Jennifer Rosales (PHI) 74 72, Pei Lin Yu (TPE) 77 69, Li Wei (CHN) 75 71

Missed the cut:-

147 – Shang Lin Yan (CHN) 73 74, Tiranun Yoopan (THA) 72 75, Yang Hong Mei (CHN) 73 74, Ana Larraneta (ESP) 75 72, Valerie Tan (BRU) 74 73, Caroline Rominger (SWI) 75 72

148 – Rebecca Codd (IRE) 78 70, Margherita Rigon (ITA) 77 71

149 – Sophie Walker (ENG) 77 72, Zhang Yu Yu (CHN) 74 75, Lynn Kenny (SCO) 73 76, Tandi Cuningham (SA) 75 74, Ornthana Chuenarrom (THA) 74 75, Stacey Keating (AUS) 74 75, Jessica Ji (KOR) 77 72, Lin Tzu Chi (TPE) 75 74

150 – Jeehae Lee (KOR) 75 75, Shen Yan Hua (CHN) 78 72, Rachel Bell (ENG) 76 74, Lotta Wahlin (SWE) 76 74

151 – Bai Yun Yan (CHN) 77 74, Smriti Mehra (IN) 75 76, Shi Yu Ting (Am) (CHN) 74 77, Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai (THA) 73 78, Yan Pan Pan (CHN) 75 76, Samantha Richdale (CAN) 77 74

152 – Pennapa Pulsawath (THA) 75 77, Gao Shuang (CHN) 78 74, Ki Shui Liao (HK) 79 73, Ren Xiao Zheng (CHN) 77 75, Wang Wen Wen (CHN) 76 76, Laurette Maritz (SA) 75 77, Mika Ikemura (JAP) 77 75, Ajira Nualraksa (THA) 82 70

153 – Gu Guo Yan (CHN) 77 76

154 – Lu Mei Ping (CHN) 79 75, Wang Yan Hua (CHN) 76 78, Riikka Hakkarainen (FIN) 76 78, Kuo Ai Chen (TPE) 78 76

156 – Zhang Wei Wei (Am) (CHN) 81 75, Xia Xin (CHN) 80 76, Saori Ikushima (JAP) 80 76

158 – Shi Xiao Ying (CHN) 81 77

159 – Zheng Jin Xiang (CHN) 79 80

161 – Heidi Chua (PHI) 79 82

169 – Zhou Qin (CHN) 84 85

RTD – Stefanie Michl (AUT) RTD RTD, Yeh Hsinning (TPE) RTD RTD