South Korea leads Women's World Amateur Team Championships

Published : Sept 16, 2016 - 13:05 Updated : Sept 16, 2016 - 13:05

RIVIERA MAYA, Mexico (AP) -- Park Min-ji shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to help South Korea take a seven-stroke lead after the second round of the Women's World Amateur Team Championship

Choi Hye-jin added a 69 at Mayakoba El Camaleon to give South Korea a 13-under 275 total, with only the best two scores counting each day for the three-player teams. Park Hyun-kyung had a 75.

Choi topped the individual standings at 5-under 139, a stroke ahead of Denmark's Puk Lyng Thomsen. Thomsen had a 67 on the Iberostar Playa Paraiso layout.

"This is a team event though, so we focus on playing as a team, practicing together and keeping a good team spirit,'' said Choi, the low amateur at the 2016 U.S. Women's Open. "We trust each other very much and that is good for our performance.''

Park Min-ji (www.golf.org.au)

The 16-year-old Park Min-ji, the Australian Amateur champion, had six birdies and two bogeys.

First-round leader Switzerland was second, with Kim Metraux shooting a 72 and sister Morgane Metraux adding a 73. The sisters are teammates at Florida State.

"I'm really pleased but a little frustrated right now because I finished with two bogeys,'' Kim Metraux said. "But I couldn't have wished for anything better, we are in contention and that's all that is important. We still have two rounds to go so anything can happen.''

Ireland was third at 1 under, with Duke junior Leona Maguire leading the team with a 70.

The United States was tied for seventh at 3 over. Katelyn Dambaugh had a 72, and Mariel Galdiano and Andrea Lee each shot 73.

South Korea won the Espirito Santo Trophy in 1996, 2010 and 2012.

"I'm very happy that we are leading at the moment and I'm very proud of the players,'' South Korean captain Ko Sang-won said. "It was a little different from yesterday. We struggled in the front nine yesterday, but today everyone seemed very calm.'' (AP)