Two Tri-City golfers are keeping terrific pace with two Thailand sisters at the 2012 Royale Cup Canadian Women's Amateur Championship this week at Alberta's Lethbridge Country Club.
Port Coquitlam's SooBin Kim, 18, equalled leader Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand on Wednesday with a women's course-record 67 to move into sixth place at one-under-par 143 in the 67-shooter field heading into Thursday's third round (after The Tri-City News' deadline).
Jutanugarn leads at eight-under 136, with Coquitlam's Jisoo Keel, 16, just three shots back in second spot at five-under 139. Jutanugarn's sister, Moriya, sat in a three-way tie for third at two-under 142.
"I made some good putts on the front nine and, then as I went into the back nine, I just had some really nice iron shots on to the green, so I was able to make a lot of birdies," Kim gushed. "On the last hole, I even sunk a 20-footer for birdie, so it was kind of a nice day for me."
Meanwhile, Keel carded six birdies and has already received exemption in the 2012 CN Canadian Women's Open at Coquitlam's Vancouver Golf Club from Aug. 20-26. The winner of the Royale Cup also receives automatic entry in the Canadian Open.
Brian Jung of Coquitlam fired a second-round 71 Wednesday to move into a tie for eighth place at the 110th B.C. Amateur men's championship, where Victoria's Kevin Carrigan held a two-stroke lead with 138 at Swan-e-set Bay Resort. Jung sat seven strokes back at 145.
Port Moody senior Gudmund Lindbjerg followed up his first-round 70 with a second-round 79 to drop into a seven-way tie for 22nd in the 70-golfer field. Coquitlam's Jeff Stashuk and Kevin Vigna sat knotted for 29th with 150 totals.
