Fast Start for Chinese Duo at Champions Retreat

Augusta, Georgia, United States: China’s Yin Xiaowen and Zeng Liqi led the Asia-Pacific challenge on the opening day of the third Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).

Yin returned a one-under-par 71 at Champions Retreat Golf Club to claim a share of third place, one stroke off the pace being set by Italy’s Benedetta Moresco and American Anna Davis. Zeng is joint sixth after an even-par 72.

Following the completion of the second round at Champions Retreat, a cut will be made with the top 30 players advancing to Saturday’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club.

Despite the absence of defending champion Tsubasa Kajitani, Japanese hopes of capturing the title for a second year in succession are being spearheaded by Rin Yoshida, among 15 players who carded a 73.

Alongside her are Australia’s Kirsten Rudgeley, China’s Ye Lei and Chinese Taipei’s Lu Hsin-yu.

Other Asia-Pacific representatives vying to qualify for the final round include Japan’s Ayaka Tezuka (75), Thai Rina Tatematsu, Korean Bang Shin-sil, Australian Emily Mahar, Indian Avani Prashanth and Hinano Muguruma of Japan (all 76).

Singaporean Shannon Tan (77), Malaysian Ashley Lau and Koreans Lee Jeong-hyun and Hwang You-min (all 78) require an inspired second round to haul themselves into contention.

So, too, does Japan’s Mizuki Hashimoto, the reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion, who returned a 79.

Making her second appearance in the ANWA, University of Alabama sophomore Moresco, 20th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, strung together nine consecutive pars on the back nine to share the lead.

She said: “It was good out there. I had really good putts from all around the green. Being patient on the golf course, I think that was key. The wind came up on the back nine more than the front nine. It was a little bit tougher.”

Moresco was joined atop the leaderboard by 16-year-old Davis, playing in the last group of the day. “Usually when I go to events, I know the people who are playing … and I don’t know a lot of the girls here. I feel like an underdog. There’s not as much pressure on you,” said Davis, a California native and one of the youngest players in the field.