Mizuno Classic
Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club
Shima-shi, Mie, Japan
November 7, 2009

Second-round Interviews: Bo Bae Song | In-Kyung Kim | Akane Iijima | Jiyai Shin | Ai Miyazato

Second-round Notes

Song ties career-low to take lead at Mizuno Classic. After a competitive second round with near-perfect conditions at the 2009 Mizuno Classic became official, South Korean player Bo Bae Song (68-65=133) was all alone at the top of the leaderboard at 11-under-par. Song fired a 7-under-par 65 on Saturday after recording eight birdies and one bogey, which tied her career-low she previously set back in 2007. To go along with the near-perfect weather conditions in Shima-shi, Mie, Japan, Song had a near-perfect start to her day as well. On the front nine she recorded six birdies on holes one, three, five, seven, eight and nine, making the turn at 6-under-par 30 at the halfway point. On the back side of the 6,506-yard course at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club, Song added a bogey on 13 and birdies on 15 and 18.

Song will begin the final round of the Mizuno Classic with a one-stroke advantage over two players, Akane Iijima of Japan and South Korea's In-Kyung Kim, who both have overall 10-under-par 134 scores. Iijima (70-64) had the round of the day at 8-under-par 64, which tied the course record at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club.

The other professional tied for second is Kim (69-65), a three-year member of the LPGA Tour and two-time Tour winner. Kim had a bogey-free, seven-birdie performance in the second round, and after two rounds in Shima-shi, Mie, Japan, has added 12 birdies and two first-round bogeys to her stat sheet. Earlier this year, the 21-year-old won the LPGA State Farm Classic, and in 2008 she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the Longs Drugs Challenge.

Players go low at Mizuno Classic. Looking at the leaderboard of the Mizuno Classic will prove that players are taking full advantage of the near-perfect course and weather conditions in Shima-shi, Mie, Japan. Of the 78 professionals in this week's field, 58 players are at even-par or better through two rounds of action. Of those, 52 are under par through 36 holes. The leader, South Korea's Bo Bae Song, is in at 11-under-par 133 (68-65), with 20 players within five strokes of her. Sunday's final round should be a fight for the finish as the best players in the world play for a share of the $1.4 million purse.

Miyazato, Ueda tied for fifth. Playing on home soil at this week's Mizuno Classic, Ai Miyazato and Momoko Ueda have identical 36-hole scores of 8-under-par 136, and both are part of an eight-player tie for fifth on the leaderboard. The Japanese stars are only two strokes back from the two-day leader Bo Bae Song (68-65=133, -11). Miyazato, a native of Okinawa, which is approximately five hours from Shima-shi, Mie in Japan, recorded seven birdies and two bogeys on Saturday, bringing her two-day total to 10 birdies and two bogeys. Miyazato became a Rolex First-Time Winner earlier this season at the Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale.

Ueda, who hails from Kumamoto, which is also roughly five hours away from this week's event, joins Miyazato in the group of players at 8-under-par overall. Ueda had a bogey-free day, recording birdies on holes one, four, seven and 15. The 23-year-old has played in 17 LPGA tournaments this year, making 14 cuts and finishing in the top-10 one time. She recorded her career-best finish as a member of the LPGA Tour at this year's CN Canadian Women's Open, where she tied for second. In 2007 at the Mizuno Classic, Ueda won the event as a non-member of the LPGA Tour.

Defending champion Shin remains in striking distance. The 2009 LPGA Tour Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year Jiyai Shin, and this week's defending champion, is 8-under-par 136 (69-67) at the Mizuno Classic. Shin recorded birdies on holes two, seven, 13, 15, 16 and 18, with a bogey on six, to get to her 136 overall score. The South Korean player is only three strokes back from the leader, fellow South Korean Bo Bae Song (68-65=133, -11), and is in the hunt to earn her fourth LPGA Tour victory of the 2009 season.

Having already claimed the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year honor over her fellow first-year players, Shin holds a slim lead in the Rolex Player of the Year standings as well. Should Shin successfully win both year-end awards, she would become the first to do so since LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Famer Nancy Lopez in 1978. Shin is also the current top-money winner on Tour with more than $1.6 in season earnings.

DNS. Ji-Hee Lee and Hiromi Takesue did not start the Mizuno Classic.

Second-round Interviews: Bo Bae Song | In-Kyung Kim | Akane Iijima | Jiyai Shin | Ai Miyazato

Bo Bae Song, 68-65=133, -11

Q. Can you talk about your round?
BO BAE SONG: My putting was good on the front nine, all single putt. But it was not as good on the back nine. I three-putted on par-5, 13th hole, even though my shots were good.

Q. How d you feel about your round today?
BO BAE SONG: Overall, very satisfied. Putting and shots were good on the front nine, and short game was also good that I could get up and down when I hit over the hard greens.

Q. Winning this tournament will give you an exemption for LPGA Tour.
BO BAE SONG: I just want to play my game tomorrow without thinking of winning.

Q. How is the condition of your left shoulder?
BO BAE SONG: I haven't been able to finish a round without taking pain relief for the recent tournaments. But I was able to play without it today. It hurts when the weather is cold, but since today was warm, it did not hurt.

In-Kyung Kim, 69-65=134, -10
Hole 7, 485-yard par 5: birdie, 58-degree to 70 yards
Hole 9, 390-yard par 4: birdie, hybrid to 185 yards
Hole 11, 165-yard par 3: birdie, 5-iron tap-in
Hole 12, 390-yard par 4: birdie, 8-iron to 130 yards
Hole 13, 495-yard par 5: birdie, 58-degree to 75 yards
Hole 17, 180-yard par 3: birdie, 6-iron to eight feet
Hole 18, 405-yard par 4: birdie, hybrid to 180 yards

Q. How was your round today?
IN-KYUNG KIM: I started off late and couldn't get birdies as I wanted to. But the birdie on the 9th hole brought the momentum, and I was able to play good golf in the back nine.

Q. How do you want to play tomorrow?
IN-KYUNG KIM: I don't know what the weather will be like tomorrow, but if the weather is fine like today, I know that a lot of the players will get a lot of birdies. But I will just play my game and concentrate on my golf.

Akane Iijima, 70-64=134, -10

Q. You had three birdies in a row.
AKANE IIJIMA: Yes. I was just hoping it would go up to the hole on 15th, and it luckily went in. But I wanted to make the put on 16th. You have to carefully read the line on these greens, otherwise you can easily miss even a short putt.

Q. What made you score 64?
AKANE IIJIMA: My shots were good. And I made 3-footers today which I struggled yesterday. I made 3 birdies on par-5 holes and that probably brought the momentum.

Q. You seem to be doing well since SANKYO Ladies.
AKANE IIJIMA: I'm able to fix my shots during the round now, and that's giving me confidence. This is helping me shoot good scores.

Q. Is anyone looking after your swing?
AKANE IIJIMA: No. My grip and posture checked by myself.

Q. Were you aiming for the high position?
AKANE IIJIMA: I though if I shoot 6 under par in 3 days I'd finish in the high position. So I was aiming for 2 under par today... But I changed my mind and decided to get as many birdies as possible, and this made me play more aggressively. Back to back birdies on 6th and 7th made me think positive, because I made bogies on these holes yesterday. I know I need a strong finish this week to get in the filed of the RICOH cup, the JLPGA tour championship.

Q. Is your goal to play in the RICOH cup?
AKANE IIJIMA: I've played in it every year, and I hope I can play this year too, even if my golf is not in a great shape.

Q. Did any US LPGA Tour players catch your attention?
AKANE IIJIMA: Until last year, I would watch them and think “wow, they're very good”. However, this year I am able to concentrate on my golf, not watching their swing. I'm not as tall and strong as they are, so I think I just need to stick to my game.

Q. How do you feel about playing as the tournament's hostess pro?
AKANE IIJIMA: I always haven't been able to play good. This year, I am at a good position so I am going to do my best tomorrow.

Q. Do you feel any pressure as a hostess pro?
AKANE IIJIMA: Usually I don't play well around this time of the year, but this year is good. There haven't been a time when I play well all year around. I am glad that I am playing well as a hostess pro.

Q. Do you know Jiyai Shin won this event last year wearing pearl earrings.
AKANE IIJIMA: So I guess I must wear them, too.

Jiyai Shin, 69-67=136, -8

Q. Out of a hundred, how would you evaluate your play today?
JIYAI SHIN: Ninety. I'm satisfied with today's play. Most of the other players scored low and I've heard some cheers from Ai's group which made me think she was making putts today.

Q. Were you in interest of Ai Miyazato's play?
JIYAI SHIN: I just tried to be aware of the flow of the tournament, not just Ai. But when I waited at the tees couple of times, I heard the crowds shouting, “go in, go in!!” from behind.

Q. How did you play in that flow of the tournament?
JIYAI SHIN: Other players were scoring low and I'm also in a good position as well. I'm satisfied with my golf today. I hope to do even better tomorrow.

Q. Did the cheers behind your group motivate you to get more birdies?
JIYAI SHIN: Definitely. My feeling was very strong and I was able to finish with a good score. Thanks to the cheers. I was able to get the birdies that I wanted. I'm glad that I made birdies today even with the pressure from the group behind.

Q. So you put a pressure on yourself?
JIYAI SHIN: I tried to think that way.

Ai Miyazato, 69-67=136, -8

Q. You got a bogey on the seventh hole. But you were able to get a birdie on the next hole. Were you able to reset your mind from the bogey?
AI MIYAZATO: Seventh hole is par-5, so a bogey was unfortunate. However, I'm satisfied with my third shot. I was able to hit a good shot from a bad lie. I putted both birdie and par putt as I imaged, so I'm satisfied. The green was difficult to read but I was more considerate about how concentrated I can stay for the next shot. So, I could concentrate well and was able to focus on the next shot.

Q. How do you evaluate your golf today?
AI MIYAZATO: You can't help bogeys sometimes. The seven birdies I got created momentum for tomorrow. So I would say, 90 out of a 100.

Q. This is your eighth consecutive round scoring 60's. Is this from a good reset of mind?
AI MIYAZATO: I feel so. I do think about the miss shot right after but by the time I get to the next shot, I forget about it. So, I'm managing my mind well, but in some cases it's hard to picture the next shot...
Today I played with a good balance. Front nine birdies are from good shots, back nine were from puttings. My concentration stayed good so I was able to go for a birdie at most holes.

Q. Tell us about how you reset your mind.
AI MIYAZATO: It's very difficult to say... It's something I've been working on for two years. It's not something I just started. But to put it in simple, it's focusing on shot by shot. I'm able to concentrate on what is going on now. I'm feeling that I'm getting better at it.

Q. You hit three putts on the last hole on second day of Evian Masters, but you were still able to win.
AI MIYAZATO: Thank you for bringing that up. I've had good feelings with my shots at Evian, and tried not to expect too good out of myself. That lead me to win Evian. Hopefully I don't expect too much out of myself tomorrow.

Q. 11-under-par is the leading score. How do you feel about that?
AI MIYAZATO: I think I am in a good position. Today was the round which I had to make as
many birdies as possible, and I did that. No matter which position I'm in, it's a battle within myself. I want to face myself and play my golf tomorrow.

Q. You might be playing with Jiyai Shin tomorrow. How do you feel about that?
AI MIYAZATO: I played with Jiyai Shin at Samsung as well. I know she is concentrating very much, so it will be a battle within myself.