Taiwan’s Chien Pei-Yun (錢佩芸) fired a low-round 68 and set herself up on a great position to snatch a title on Friday’s final round at the 2016 Yeangder TLPGA Open. After 36 holes, Chien leads at 4-under 140, holding a one-shot advantage over compatriot Tsai Pei-Ying (蔡佩穎).

In the second-round action today, Chien notched one eagle, three birdies against just one bogey on a breezy Thursday at the Tong Hwa Golf & Country Club to seize the lead. “I really wanted to do well here and I gave myself a lot of expectation so I was a little nervous actually,” said Chien, who had earned a full-playing status on the LPGA’s futures tour, the Symetra Tour for the 2016 season.

“I had that bogey on the 16th when I dumped my tee shot left but other than that, thanks to the weather getting a lot friendlier today, wind getting lighter, and greens drier, which made it easier to read, I liked how I putted, and I think overall I played quite solid.”

“I’m hoping I get to shed the nerves and just go for it on the final day,” Chien enthused. “I will try to do everything I can to win.”

Chien’s high school classmate Tsai Pei-Ying sits just one stroke behind her and the two friends will be featured in the final group tomorrow. “It’s always good you play with your friend,” said Tsai. “It’s interesting because we were also playing partners last week at the Hitachi Ladies Classic. It feels more relaxing to have someone you’re familiar with next to you and it brings out the better in me.”

Tsai made an impressive five birdies and only two bogeys to have a second-round 69 which pumped her to solo second place at 141. “The only mistakes I got were a bad chip on the 4th and a bad three-putt on the 11th. But I will definitely be throwing the bad feelings behind and look for the win tomorrow,” Tsai said.

Hsieh Yu-Ling (謝瑀玲) carded three birdies and two bogeys today to finish with a two-round total of 143, trailing Tsai by two shots at equal third with her first-round co-leader Hung Jo-Hua (洪若華), Chinese teen star Shi Yuting (石昱婷) and Thailand’s Punpaka Phuntumabamrung. “My driver was kind of off,” said Hsieh. “But we are still pretty close and I think it’s anybody’s game tomorrow.” 16-year-old Hung continued her steady performance and is currently the top amateur in the standings.

Shi registered a 2-under 70 with three birdies and one bogey to improve to a tie for third. “I’m just hoping it’s getting better with each day!” Shi’s got very consistent results over the last few months with a solo second at the TLPGA Tour’s 2015 year-end TLPGA Open, an equal third at the CTBC Ladies Open last September, and a solo fourth finish just last week at the Orient Golf & Country Club but is still hunting a first victory.

2013 champion Phoebe Yao (姚宣榆) also made three birdies and one bogey and moved into a tie for seventh with Tour titlist Nontaya Srisawang and Korea’s Lee Ye-Seul.

“I’m actually trying to make a few tiny adjustments in my game. But I think I still have something to work on especially with my balance and coordination with this new motion,” said Yao. “I will not put too much focus on winning, just concentrate on my swinging.”

Last week’s Hitachi Ladies Classic runner-up Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉) used two straight 73s to sit at equal thirteenth.

A cut was made following the second round to the top 56 players above 8-over 152 into Friday. The earliest group will tee it up for the final round at 7:00, while the leaders’ group tees off at 8:30 in the morning.