RYU MAINTAINS LEAD

(4 February 2012 - Gold Coast, Australia)

After yesterday’s exciting eleven under round, it looked like South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu would run away with the Gold Coast RACV Australian Ladies Masters but no one told that to her main chaser, the Netherlands Christel Boeljon.

Even though Ryu opened up a five shot lead over the Dutchwoman early in today’s round at Royal Pines, Boeljon remained patient and was able to capitalise when the normally solid South Korean blinked on nine with a bogey.

Boeljon then applied the pressure on the back nine with two great birdies on holes 11 and 12, while Ryu’s flat stick suddenly went cold and her irons into the greens weren’t quite as radar like as yesterday. But a late birdie on 17 gave Ryu some breathing space and after the pair birdied the par 5 18th , it was Ryu leading by three shots following a three under 69 today. She is on 20-under-par and could quite possibly give Karrie Webb’s 26 under record a shake tomorrow.

After her round she was asked what it would mean to win this tournament, she politely responded “First I really like this course, and Australia, the country. So I really want to win this tournament because you know, this tournament has a really great tradition. The stand with the winner’s country flag and picture. I want to build my country flag on there, and I don’t know why, I just like this place, especially the gold coast, because I always spend my time here. It would be really really really great.”

Boeljon, playing with new clubs, shot a very impressive four under 68 and will not be intimidated when the pair play again tomorrow in the final grouping.

Ryu’s compatriot, Ha-Neul Kim put herself in with a chance with an eagle on the 18th giving her an eight under 64 for the day. The 2011 Korean LPGA Player of the Year is five shots off the lead in a share of equal third with Italian Diana Luna, both sitting on 15-under-par.

Australian Frances Bondad was the big mover of the day, leaping up the leaderboard to be in outright fifth place following a brilliant nine-under-par 63. It is her best round as a professional, having once shot that score as an amateur.

“I’m really happy with that,” she said.

The 24-year-old is playing with renewed confidence following her win late last year on the Ladies European Tour and was surprised to see her back nine score.

“Oh wow,” she said when she saw it for the first time post round on ABC TV.

“I wasn’t really paying attention I just sort of lost count during the middle of the round. I was just enjoying myself.”

Bondad is on thirteen under for the tournament, just one shot ahead of fellow compatriot Nikki Campbell and South Korean Bo- Mee Lee, while England’s Felicity Johnson and America’s Amelia Lewis are one stroke further back on 11-under-par.

Italy’s Giulia Sergas and France’s Gwladys Nocera round out the top ten on 10-under par.

Click here for the draw.