Teenagers Kanphanitnan Muangkhumsakul from Thailand and Shi Yuting (石昱婷) from China dominated the leaderboard through Day 2 of the 2016 season opener, the NT$ 10 million Hitachi Ladies Classic. Now just 16 and 17 years old respectively, Muangkhumsakul and Shi brought their 36-hole total to 4-under 140s for the lead at a sunny but windy Orient Golf & Country Club on Saturday.

A group of four lurked within just one shot, which included three-time defending champion Pornanong Phatlum, who is seeking to extend her title count at this event to five in just six years, her compatriot Saraporn Chamchoi, and Taiwanese youngsters Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉) and Babe Liu (劉依貞).

Taiwan’s Yu Pei-Lin (余珮琳) and Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲) sit another two shot adrift at 143, tying for 7th, while 15-year-old Chang Ya-Chun (張雅淳) and Hitachi Taiwan ambassador Yeh Hsin-Ning (葉欣寧) finished the second round at even-par 144 and equal 9th.

Muangkhumsakul, Shi, and Liu will tee off on Sunday’s final group at 10:10 in the morning. Muangkhumsakul is seeking her second TLPGA Tour title and Shi is hoping for her first. Phatlum’s playing partners, who will start 10-minute earlier, are Chamchoi and Cheng.

The low round today was made by Shi. Shi shot a 68 on a windy Saturday with five birdies and one bogey. “I was putting very nicely, a lot better than yesterday, which kind of allowed me to play more aggressively,” said the Chinese teen star. Shi needed just 27 putts.

Shi was equal third at the CTBC Ladies Open last September, and improved to a solo second at the TLPGA Tour’s 2015 year-end TLPGA Open, where, if it had not been for a second-round 80, she could have lifted the title. “Yeah I was caught up by a wind a bit. It isn’t common to have such big gusts on the golf courses in China, so I went back and practiced a lot, on how to play in the wind. I think I did well today, keeping the ball low and flat, and more importantly I did not panic when the wind blew hard.”

Having turned pro in August, 2014, Shi said she had been the runner-up or the third place on more than ten occasions but never got to take a victory just yet. The Beijing native came through the 2016 TLPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament as the top finisher in December and is playing her first event as an official member on the Tour this week.

Overnight co-leader Muangkhumsakul, just 16, has held one TLPGA Tour title already at the 2014 Party Golfers’ Open when she was 15. The Thai teen captured three birdies and two bogeys to finish another round under par, although spending a few more shots on the greens than she probably should. Muangkhumsakul had to use 31 putts.

Home course talent Cheng was looking to set the pace for the final day through the first 17 holes on Saturday, but the final tee shot on the 18th flying out of bounds saw she cost two shots for it and fell into a tie for third.

“I hope I can try to enjoy and play my game tomorrow. For too many times on the big Sunday, I got too nervous with the pressure to win and played poorly,” said Cheng. “I feel I’ve grown stronger in the mentality with my experience over the last year on a competitive tour like LET (Ladies European Tour). I hope the improvement will show and help me through the final round.”

Coming out on fire with three consecutive birdies, Liu shot a total of four birdies and one bogey on the front nine, however, making nine straight pars to settle for a 69 which still pushed her to the leading position. Liu has won herself a full membership on the Japan LPGA tour for 2016 and will be turning the focus to her first year in Japan.

“I like it to be even more wind than today,” Liu said, on her chance for the victory. “So that we can expect more movement in the frontrunners and that I can have bigger chances to catch up, too, because I like to play it faster with the wind.”

First-round leader Chiu Ling-Ti (邱齡緹) remained in the top 10 through 17 holes but swallowed a four-over alone on the 18th to wrap up the day at 147, tying with her young compatriot Mayko Chwen Wang (王淳) for 24th.

Having a bet for “bubble tea” together, teenage sensation Chang now trailed her idol Phatlum for three shots at 144. Chang almost already assured herself the low amateur honor but she said her eyes were on the win.

If Phatlum can emerge victorious on Sunday, it will be her fourth consecutive Hitachi Ladies Classic crown and fifth in only six years. The LPGA no.38 had another disappointing day with her putter, though, using 32 putts to register just a 71, but would still have a great winning opportunity being just one shot off.

The Hitachi Ladies Classic is the very first pro golf tour event globally and will be the first to offer any world golf ranking points as well. The points will be counted toward the Rio Olympic Games qualification. The winner will be determined on Sunday to be rewarded a cash prize worth NT$2.5 million.

Book your tickets now at http://www.ticket.com.tw/dm.asp?P1=7000000410. Fans can utilize the additional shuttle bus service on the weekends at Exit 1 of Taipei MRT Line 4 Huilong Station. For more information on the 2015 Hitachi Ladies Classic, please visit the tournament website at http://www.taiwan-hitachi.com.tw/