Women's British Open

A SECOND-straight round of 68 saw Yani Tseng open up a four-shot lead at the halfway stage of the Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Tseng had produced a birdie-eagle finish on Thursday to earn a share of the lead with Australia’s Katherine Hull and the 21-year-old was again in fine form at the Southport course as she moved to eight under par for the championship.

The Taiwanese player finished with five birdies and one bogey to go four shots clear of Amy Yang, Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome.

Yang produced a steady first nine with just the one birdie to turn with a 34 and then made a birdie on the last for a 37 to complete her second round with a one-under-par 71 to go to four under overall.

Kerr had a highly impressive day with six birdies accompanied by a bogey for a five-under-par 67, the best round of the day, while Lincicome recovered from two bogeys and a double bogey following the turn to record two birdies and an eagle in the last four holes for a one-under-par 71.

Irish amateur Danielle McVeigh was unable to keep up her good form from the first round as she shot a 79 to miss the cut by four shots on nine over.

Ireland’s two professionals in action also missed out, with Rebecca Coakley also firing a 79 to finish on 12 over, while Martina Gillen was two shots further back after another 79.

LEADING SECOND ROUND SCORES: 136 – Yani Tseng (Tai) 68 68; 140 – Brittany Lincicome (USA) 69 71, Cristie Kerr (USA) 73 67, Amy Yang (Kor) 69 71; 141 – Sun Young Yoo (Kor) 69 72, Juli Inkster (USA) 71 70, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 73 68; 142 – Jiyai Shin (Kor) 71 71, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 72 70, Hee Kyung Seo (Kor) 73 69, MJ Hur (Kor) 74 68, Christina Kim (USA) 74 68, Katherine Hull (Aus) 68 74; In Kyung Kim (Kor) 70 72; Anne-Lise Caudal (Fra) 69 73.

Irish (missed the cut): 153 – Danielle McVeigh 74 79; 156 – Rebecca Coakley 77 79; 158 Martina Gillen 79 79.