Nanjing, China: Korean Lee So-young moved clear of the field after a second round 68 in the Youth Olympics Women’s Individual Stroke Play Competition.
The 17-year-old, from Gyung-gi Province, south of Seoul, completed a solid bogey-free round to finish two ahead of Thailand’s Supamas Sangchan and Chinese Taipei’s Cheng Ssu-chia who are tied for second place at Zhongshan International Golf Club.
“I’m generally pretty happy with today,” said Lee. “I didn’t have any bogeys. I wish to be the Youth Olympic champion. I try not to think about winning and I will concentrate on every shot. Then if luck is with me I hope I can win the Gold Medal.”
A second year student at Anyang Girls High School, Lee has played two professional events this year; the LOTTE Championship on the LPGA Tour and the VOLVIK RACV Ladies Masters on the Ladies European Tour (LET). She made the cut on both occasions finishing nine-under-par and tied for fifth position at the LET event.
Thai Supamas also avoided dropping a shot, finishing with a faultless six-under 66 for her day and getting into position to win a medal having started the day at one-over-par.
“I felt more relaxed today and I didn’t worry about my score. I putted a bit better than yesterday and made a few birdies,” said the Bangkok-based 18-year-old. “Tomorrow I hope to win, of course. I will do my best and see what happens.”
Chinese Taipei’s Cheng is also on five-under after building on her opening round 69 with a solid second round 70.
Cheng, Supamas and Lee will tee off at 9.10 am local time tomorrow.
In the Men’s Competition, Norway’s Viktor Hovland shot a second round 68 to lead the field by one going into the final round.
The 16-year-old’s only bogey came on the first, his 10th, but his round was otherwise perfect with five birdies and 12 pars.
“I’m pretty happy,” Hovland said.  “I played good today, I had some bad shots too but I hit some quality approaches and made some birdies. I have done what I could and I have set myself in a good position to contend tomorrow. Let’s see how it goes.”
Thailand’s Danthai Boonma shot a two-under 70 to sit in Silver Medal position with a round to go. The 18-year-old, from Panya Indra Golf Club in Bangkok, started on the 10th and struggled with the greens during his front nine. He made birdies on the sixth and seventh holes (his 15th and 16th) to build on his opening round 67 and finish just one shot back of Hovland.
“My putting wasn’t good but I was still even-par through nine holes,” said Boonma. “My back nine was better, I made two birdies and it put me in a good position.  I want to win tomorrow. I would love to win the Gold Medal.”
Marcus Kinhult, from Sweden, finished one shot back after a second round 72. Kinhult said: “Today wasn’t as good as yesterday. I got off to a good start but then I was struggling on my back nine. I know Viktor quite well. We have played a lot. Last time we played in a match in April he beat me. Hopefully I can get the better of him tomorrow.”