Ciganda, Park seize the lead

SINGAPORE — In their quest for success, professional athletes often spend a lot of time and resources on trying to secure the best experts in their fields. But as Park Inbee and Carlota Ciganda are showing, sometimes, the solutions are already with them.

The pair go into the final two rounds of the US$1.4 million (S$1.93 million) HSBC Women’s Champions golf tournament as joint-leaders of the 63-strong field, with a 9-under par 135 total after 36 holes at the Sentosa Golf Club’s par 72 Serapong course yesterday. World No 2 Park carded a 69, while unheralded Spaniard Carlota, 45th in the world rankings, shot the day’s lowest round of 66. They hold a two-stroke lead over another Spaniard, Azahara Munoz, who is second (137).

Park, who had her world No 1 ranking usurped by 17-year-old Lydia Ko last month, said having her swing coach and husband Gi Hyeob-nam — a former PGA player — on the course meant she would not struggle with the “loneliness near the top of the LPGA Tour”, which has worn down the likes of South Korean icon Park Se-Ri and five-time Major winner Tseng Yani. “It can be lonely out there, especially when you are on top. I couldn’t do anything without (Gi) now,” said Park, 26.

Park had her second bogey-free round in the tournament yesterday, but consecutive birdies at the 14th and 15th, as well as another at the 18th, spiralled her to the top of the leader board. “Overall, everything tee-to-green was perfect today, though I missed about nine, 10 opportunities,” she said.

Similarly, Ciganda, who resides in the Pamplona, Spain, looked happy having her 62-year-old father, Jesus, with her yesterday. Her uncle and friend were also there to support her.

Seeking her maiden LPGA Tour win since turning professional in 2011, Ciganda had a jittery start yesterday, bogeying the first hole, but finished with eight birdies and another bogey in the 15th hole.

A regular on the Ladies European Tour (LET), Ciganda was named Players’ Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year, and she topped the money list in 2012 in her first full season on the LET. The 24-year-old believes her father’s support will be crucial in her quest to win the US$210,000 winner’s cheque tomorrow and secure her first title on the LPGA Tour. “He’s been a really good influence to me my whole life. He’s very positive and when I’m playing good, he’s always telling me to just have fun and enjoy,” she said.

Acknowledging that she needs to work on her consistency, Ciganda added: “I really want to win my first LPGA tournament, but I don’t want to think too much. I know I must be patient.”

But staying close to the leading pair is a four-way tie for third, with world No 1 Lydia Ko, South Korea’s Jenny Shin, Australian Karrie Webb and Stacy Lewis of the United States all on 138. Defending champion Paula Creamer is joint-36th (145).

Singapore’s Koh Sock Hwee, the sole representative from the host nation, remains bottom of the standings after carding a 5-over par 77 for a 156 two-round total.

Meanwhile, Tseng, who missed on the Honda LPGA Thailand title last week after a double bogey at the 18th on the final day, slipped to joint-17th after three bogeys saw her card a 75 for a 141 total.

“I just don’t know what happened, but I am still keeping positive,” she said. “I don’t want to repeat what happened in Thailand last week.”

HSBC Women’s Champions 2015

Where: Sentosa Golf Club, Serapong course

When: Mar 5-8 (Thurs – Sun)

Total prize money: US$1.4 million

Format: Strokeplay over 72 holes with no cut.

Tickets are available from SISTIC (www.sistic.com.sg/events/hsbc0315)

Leading scores after two rounds (Top 10):

135 — Carlota Ciganda (Esp) 69 66, Park In-bee (Kor) 66 69

137 — Azahara Munoz (Esp) 70 67

138 — Lydia Ko (NZ) 68 70, Stacy Lewis (USA) 69 69, Jenny Shin (Kor) 68 70, Karrie Webb (Aus) 68 70

139 — Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 69 70, Jodi Ewart Shadoff (Eng) 70 69, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 71 68, Ryu So-yeon (Kor), Jessica Korda (USA) 72 67, Caroline Masson (Ger) 71 68

Selected tee times:

From tee 1:

8.59am: Angela Stanford (USA), Yani Tseng (TPE), Lee-Anne Pace (SA)

9.43am: Lydia Ko (NZ), Jessica Korda (USA), Caroline Masson (GER)

9.54am: Stacy Lewis (USA), Jenny Shin (KOR), Karrie Webb (AUS)

10.05am: Carlota Ciganda (ESP), Inbee Park (Kor), Azahara Munoz (ESP)

From tee 10:

9.54am: Mirim Lee (KOR), Caroline Hedwall (SWE), Sock Hwee Koh (SIN)

Visit www.hsbcgolf.com/womens for more details. The HSBC Women’s Champions will be shown on Singtel TV Ch 114 and StarHub TV Ch 208 today from 11.30am.