In this file photo dated April 2, 2022, Zeng Liqi of China plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Georgia. (PHOTO / AFP)

ZHUHAI, China - Chinese teenager Zeng Liqi separated herself from the pack at the Golf Liquor Guangdong Open on Thursday, opening up a slim one-stroke lead through two rounds of the China LPGA Tour event.

In the scorching heat at Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club, Zeng, the overnight co-leader, carded her second consecutive round of two-under 70 for a 36-hole score of four-under 140.

Thai veteran Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong battled through illness to shoot a 70 to sit one stroke off the pace with Chinese amateur Zhang Yahui (70). Fellow Thai Kusuma Meechai was two shots back after a 71.

Amateur Wang Zixuan, the other overnight co-leader, struggled to a three-over 75 to fall five shots back.

Zeng Liqi's first birdie did not come until the 17th hole (her eighth hole) as she would make the turn at even par. Her back nine (the front nine) proved much better as she would card four birdies and two bogeys, including one at her last hole (the ninth hole) where she chipped over the green

Zeng, a three-time winner on the CLPGA Tour, started her day from the Lakewood back nine and took a while to get her round going.

Her first birdie did not come until the 17th hole (her eighth hole) as she would make the turn at even par. Her back nine (the front nine) proved much better as she would card four birdies and two bogeys, including one at her last hole (the ninth hole) where she chipped over the green.

"I felt good about my game, although I missed some chances out there. A 70 isn't a great score, but it's good enough to put me into a good position to compete for the title. I need to play better around the greens. I felt that I rushed with some shots crudely," said Zeng who continued to battle with a putter that saw her three-putt three times during the first round.

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"It's a tough course. I had another two three-putts for bogeys today. The important thing is I completed my round without a big mistake or a double bogey."

Sherman, the CLPGA Tour Order of Merit leader, got hot late in her round playing in the same group as Zeng when she carded three consecutive birdies starting from the sixth hole (her 15th hole) to take the lead. However, disaster struck on her last hole (the ninth) when she closed with a double-bogey six.

"My tee shot went right and I lost my ball. My second ball went into the bunker and then I two-putted," said Sherman who considered withdrawing from the tournament after coming down with a severe case of diarrhea. "I hope I'm feeling better tomorrow."

Zhang Yahui, the Wuhan amateur, put herself in contention for her second CLPGA Tour win with a round that included three birdies and a lone bogey after starting from the back nine.

Zhang, the Wuhan amateur, put herself in contention for her second CLPGA Tour win with a round that included three birdies and a lone bogey after starting from the back nine. Two years ago, the teenager won the CTBC Zhuhai Challenge at Lakewood in a playoff as a 15-year-old, becoming the youngest winner on Tour at the time.

"If only I was three-under today it would have made me happier leaving this golf course. But I will take this score because you couldn't make more putts on those tricky greens. Some putting lines weren't readable," said Zhang who last month competed in the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur.

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"I am coming back to my old form slowly. I could hit some accurate shots more regularly. I am changing my swing under a new coach. I spent more time in the driving range and less time on the putting green, which led to my poor touch on the greens."