Kuo Ai-Chen (郭艾榛) of Taiwan, with a brilliant putting display and calm demeanor, fired six birdies and carded a low-round 69 on Day 2 of the 2015 Taifong Ladies Open to catch up with the first-round leader, teen sensation Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉) on top of the leaderboard at 4-under 140. The latter shot even-par 72 with two birdies and bogeys each. Both will be aiming at their first career pro title tomorrow.

Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai continued with a solid performance, finishing with two consecutive birdies to card at 71 with a total score of 141, just one shot off the lead.

Another Thai force Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul and Taiwan’s Lin Tzu-Chi (林子麒) both carded 71 to sit in a tie for fourth at 143. The up and coming Huang Hsien-Wen’s (黃賢雯) low-round score of 69 brought her back within striking distance at 144, tying Babe Liu (劉依貞) for sixth who shot back to back 72s.

Yeh Hsin-Ning (葉欣寧) plunged a little with a second-round 76 to fall in a tie for eighth at 145 with 2014 TLPGA Tour money winner Chien Pei-Yun (錢珮芸).

Chen Min-Jou (陳敏柔) heads into the final Sunday with the lead in the amateurs’, who used a 76-73 total of 149 to sit on the overall leaderboard at T15.

Kuo Ai-Chen credited a smart change of mindset for a strong putting day -- she needed only 24 putts and made six birdies. “I wasn’t putting that well on the first few ones actually, and then I realized I wanted make it perfect on every shot which started to turn into pressure on myself,” said Kuo. “So I was telling myself to kind of let loose and just hit it as close as possible rather than to want everything drop. And it just started going in.”

“It will be the third time I’m able to tee it up in the final group. I will try to enjoy as much and see if I can do more.”

Winning four tournaments already as an amateur, Cheng Ssu-Chia will be looking to take home the victory in just her second start as a pro. She said she got tensed up a bit when she took a glimpse at the leaderboard after Kuo matched her position after a birdie on 13th. “I should have concentrated more on myself. Was rushing a little bit on the back nine. I could have taken more chances,” said Cheng, who tallied zero birdies but a bogey after she made the turn.

A few notable names were forced to pull out, though. Three-time champion and JLPGA No.2 Teresa Lu (盧曉晴) retired halfway on the day, citing an unknown illness. “I wasn’t feeling good all week. Felt pressed in the chest, hoped it would get better but the tight feeling persisted and even stretched down to my stomach. Whenever I bent it was hurting,” said Lu. Also out were Taiwanese Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆) and Pilipino Cyna Rodriguez, both due to hand injuries.

With Lu out of the competition, the tournament will see a new champion. Over the six-year history, only Lu and Yani Tseng (曾雅妮) ever claimed the title at the Taifong Golf Club, winning three editions respectively.

Cheng, Kuo, and Meechai are scheduled to tee off last at 10 a.m. on the final Sunday. The purse of this year’s Taifong Ladies Open reaches NT$6.8 million and the winner tomorrow will receive a first-place prize check worth NT$2 million.