Ryu takes charge in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (AP) ― Ryu So-yeon of South Korea shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead halfway through the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, the second event of the tour’s six-tournament Asian swing.

Ryu had seven birdies and a bogey to move to an 11-under total of 131, leading a group of four players including Japan’s Akayo Uehara, whose second-round 63 contained eight birdies.

Also at 9 under were Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England, who both carded 64s in the second round, and Korean Ji Eun-hee, who shot 67.

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis, who shot 65 to take the first-round lead, slipped to a share of 11th place with a 71.

South Korean golfers have won six of the past seven LPGA tournaments.


Bae, Gonzalez take early lead

NAPA, California (AP) ― The new PGA Tour season felt like an old one to a trio of Ryder Cup players Thursday at the Frys.com Open.

Hunter Mahan, Matt Kuchar and Jimmy Walker met on the 10th tee at Silverado. With a morning chill in the air and beautiful scenery of Napa Valley, it was vaguely similar to the rolling hills of Gleneagles just two weeks ago at the Ryder Cup. Except that no one was singing. There was hardly anyone in the grandstand, or on the golf course.

“It’s a little strange off the tee when no one is really here at 7:45,” Mahan said after opening with a 2-under 70, leaving him four shots out of the lead. “And out there at 7, everyone is singing along and the party is already started.”

It was back to normal for those three Americans, along with Lee Westwood of England, who made two late birdies to salvage a 73. And it was another chance for Andres Gonzalez, who made it back to the PGA Tour for the third time. He has yet to keep his card, and while this was only the first round of the new wraparound season, he was plenty happy with no bogeys on his card and a 6-under 66.

Bae Sang-moon made seven birdies in the afternoon and joined Gonzalez at 66.


Colsaerts shoots 60 in Portugal

VILAMOURA, Portugal (AP) ― Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium shot a brilliant 11-under 60 to take a three-shot lead at the Portugal Masters in the opening round on Thursday.

Colsaerts came close to setting a European Tour record of 59 when his birdie putt missed on the par-4 18th hole.

“I thought it was going to be slightly left to right at the end and it kind of went straight and basically just left it hanging,” Colsaerts said. “Too bad, it was a pretty good effort.”

Colsaerts made eagles on the 15th and 17th after hitting seven birdies through a near flawless first day at the Oceanico Victoria Golf Club.