Qingdao: China’s Hu Ling fired her second consecutive round of one-under 71 today to open up a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the US$50,000 Oriental Masters Qingdao in Shandong province.

The 27-year-old club pro from Hunan province is an aggregate two-under 142 after 36 holes at the 6,500-yard Orient Qingdao Country Club, ahead of Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum who improved to even par after a round of two-under 70.

Thai compatriot Rungthiwa Pangjan (71) and Chinese mainlander Wang Chun (72) were equal third, three shots off the pace. Thidapa Suwannapura, a 14-year-old Thai amateur, shot a one-over 73 to sit four back in a group with mainlanders Shang Linyan (70), Zhang Lin (72) and Bai Yunyan (73).

On the strength of her strong iron play, overnight leader Hu got to four-under through seven holes before dropping strokes on holes eight and 14.

“Today was better because my irons and putting were very good on the front nine. But the back nine was bad because I missed putts from within three feet several times. After I birdied the seventh to get to four-under, I went for birdie on the (par-five) eighth and ended up with a bogey.”

Hu, who works as a club pro at the Long Island club in Dongguan, Guangdong province, can be recognized as a fully-accredited professional if she finishes within the top-three at Qingdao, according to the China Golf Association’s guidelines for professionals. Her best result to date in a pro tournament has been 17th.

“This is something all (Chinese mainland club) pros think about but I try not think about it because it would effect my mental game. I am just going to go into tomorrow with the same strategy as I have had the last couple of days and play steady. Today, my greens in regulations were very good as I only missed two.”

Pornanong, a three-time winner on the All Thailand circuit this year who will try for her US LPGA Tour card in August, registered three birdies against a lone bogey in her round.

“My iron play was good today and my putting was okay. It was also very relaxing to be playing in a group with another Thai (Rungthiwa Pangjan),” said the 17-year-old. “My strategy for tomorrow is to try my best and concentrate on only my game and not to think about the games of others. This is very important. If I don’t concentrate on only myself and start to think about other people’s scores, this puts pressure on me and I won’t be able to play to the level I know I am capable of playing.”

Chinese mainlander Wang Chun eagled the 492-yard, par-five fifth hole today but said her putting would have to drastically improve if she was going to make a final round charge.

“I had 36 putts today and that was too many,” said the Beijing native. “The Thais are all very disciplined and have good short games but I just have to play my own game. The eagle picked up my spirits and made me feel like I could shoot a low score today. I have confidence in my game and just have to make more birdies and try to reduce my numbers of putts.”

Orient Masters Qingdao second round leading scores

142: Hu Ling (CHN) 71-71

144: Pornanong Phatlam (THA) 74-70

145: Rungthiwa Pangjan (THA) 74-71, Wang Chun (CHN) 73-72

146: Bai Yunyan (CHN) 73-73, Zhang Lin (CHN) 74-72, Shang Linyan (CHN) 76-70, Thidapa Suwannapura (THA) [A] 73-73

147: Lu Kwan-chih (TPE) 75-72, Shi Huei-ji (TPE) 72-75, Huang Ping (CHN) 78-69

148: Yang Taoli (CHN) 75-73

149: Porani Chutichai (THA) 77-72, Ye Liying (CHN) 72-77, Yu Pei-lin (TPE) 74-75