이지영, 이틀 연속 '맹타'…단독 선두 도약

이지영(28•볼빅)이 미국여자프로골프(LPGA) 투어 RR 도넬리 파운더스컵(총상금 150만 달러)에서 이틀째 맹타를 휘두르며 단독 선두로 뛰어올랐다.

이지영은 16일(한국시간) 미국 애리조나주 피닉스의 와일드파이어 골프장(파72 •6천583야드)에서 열린 대회 2라운드에서 보기 없이 버디만 8개를 몰아쳐 8언더파 64타를 써냈다.

중간합계 15언더파 129타를 적어낸 이지영은 전날 2위에서 단독 선두로 도약했다.

2위 미야자토 아이(일본•14언더파 130타)와는 1타 차이다.

세계랭킹 3위인 스테이시 루이스(미국)는 2라운드에서 7타를 줄이며 단독 3위(1 1언더파 133타)에 올랐다.

이지영은 2005년 한국에서 열린 LPGA 대회 CJ 나인브릿지 클래식(현 하나외환 챔피언십)에서 우승하고서 미국 무대에 진출했는데, 이후 우승과는 인연이 없었다.

2011∼2012년에는 부진을 겪으며 한 번도 톱10에 든 적이 없다.

올해도 첫 대회인 ISPS 한다 호주여자오픈에서는 컷 탈락했다.

그러나 이번 대회에서는 이틀 연속 쾌조의 샷 감각을 이어가며 모처럼 우승을 노릴 수 있게 됐다.

1라운드에서 버디 9개를 쓸어담고 보기는 2개로 막은 이지영은 이날 전반에만 7∼9번홀 연속 버디 등 4타를 줄이며 기세를 이어갔다.

후반에는 10번홀(파4) 버디 이후 타수를 지켜나가다 15∼18번 사이에만 버디를 3개 뽑아내는 뒷심을 발휘하며 단독 선두로 올라섰다.

양희영(24•KB금융그룹)은 9언더파 135타를 쳐 공동 4위에 올랐고, 김인경(25• 하나금융그룹)은 8언더파 136타로 크리스티 커(미국) 등과 공동 9위에 자리했다.

신지애(25•미래에셋)는 7언더파 137타를 써내 한희원(35•KB금융그룹) 등과 공동 14위에 이름을 올렸다.

세계랭킹 2위 최나연(26•SK텔레콤)은 공동 50위(3언더파 141타), 세계랭킹 1위 청야니(대만)는 공동 60위(2언더파 142타)로 주춤했다.

<관련 영문 기사>

Lee Jee-young leads LPGA Founders Cup

Lee Jee-young birdied three of her last four holes to take a one-stroke lead over Ai Miyazato on another hot day at the LPGA Founders Cup.

Lee, the 27-year-old South Korean player who won the LPGA Tour's 2005 South Korean event before becoming a tour member, had a bogey-free 8-under 64 on Friday to reach 15-under 129. She broke the tournament 36-hole record of 12 under set by Angela Stanford in 2011.

``I've waited so long, like seven, eight years,'' Lee said. ``I really want to win this week. But two days more, two days left, so I'm going to try to keep being more confident and patient.''

She played in the morning before the temperature climbed into the low 90s Fahrenheit (30s Celsius) on Desert Ridge's Wildfire course.

``My driver was good,'' Lee said. ``My tee shots keep in the fairway, and then my irons are pretty good, better than yesterday, and my putting works a little bit more.''

Miyazato bogeyed her final hole for a 67 a day after shooting a tournament-record 63. The Japanese star is playing her first event since sustaining a whiplash injury three weeks ago in a five-vehicle crash after a tournament in Thailand.

“I'm very happy with my round,'' Miyazato said. ``I made eight birdies out there. I had three bogeys, but still a lot of birdies, so it just feels good. ... I kept hitting the fairways and I kept hitting to the green, and I had 29 putts, which is like my green regulation.''

Third-ranked Stacy Lewis, coming off a victory two weeks ago in Singapore, was four strokes back in third after a 65. She holed out from 109 yards for eagle on the par-4 16th _ her seventh hole of the day _ and played the back nine in 4 under with five birdies and a bogey.

``I just really didn't have any birdie putts the first few holes and then just hit a shot on 16 that was perfect,'' Lewis said. ``From there, I made about an 8-footer for par on one and I think that really kept the momentum going and I hit some good shots on the back nine and made putts.''

Lewis has a chance to take the top spot in the world from Yani Tseng of Taiwan with a victory.

``If I ever get to No. 1, I'm going to enjoy it because I never as a kid dreamed of being in that position,'' Lewis said. ``It's definitely on my mind.''

Tseng, the defending champion, was 2 under after a 72. She entered the week with a 22-event, 50-week winless streak, while Lewis has won five times in her last 22 tournaments.

``I think Yani's put a lot of pressure on herself,'' Lewis said. ``I think she's kind of taken the expectations up another level and I definitely think the state she's at right now with her game, I think if she did lose it, I think she would start to play better.''

Lewis and Tseng played alongside Paula Creamer in the first two rounds. Creamer, also slightly injured in the car accident on the way to the Bangkok airport, was 5 under after a 70.

Second-ranked Na Yeon Choi, also with a chance to move up to No. 1 with a victory, was 3 under after a 72.

Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 72. She also missed the cut in Australia, finished 45th in Thailand and tied for 45th in Singapore _ both no-cut events. In 12 rounds this year, Wie _ using an awkward hunched-over putting stance _ has broken 70 only once, closing with a 69 in Singapore after a third-round 77.

Suzann Pettersen also missed the cut, shooting 73-71. The Norwegian player, ranked No. 7 in the world, was coming off a victory Sunday in China in a Ladies European Tour event. (AP)