Japan’s Akari Takano found herself atop the leaderboard at the CTBC Ladies Open after a second round 65 to put her at 2-under 142 over 36 holes. She is joined by Chang Ching-Ling (張靖翎) who registered a 69 following a first-round 73.

The CTBC Ladies Open is a TLPGA Tour and JLPGA’s Step Up Tour co-sanctioned event, featuring a total prizemoney of JPY30,000,000.

Takano capitalized a fine weather as the wind calmed down on Friday to fire a low-round 65, composed of one eagle, five birdies, and zero bogey, which was her lowest round recorded in a pro tournament. “I felt great and I knew I had to take my chances as the wind was kinder to us today, but I honestly didn’t expect to play so well, especially when I’m actually still getting used to my new, stiffer clubs,” the Japanese said.

Takano made a surprise eagle on the par-4 12th hole, where she took out her 9-iron and launched a right-to-left curve from 125 yards. “I actually targeted a bit to the right of the flag, but I had plenty of draw on the ball, which, in hindsight, helped with the space to let the ball roll and drop.”

“I felt totally fresh today, probably because we went to a Japanese restaurant last evening,” Takano joked, who needed just 26 putts. “I almost played too well today that I’m afraid I may not duplicate this performance going forward and I’ll be really sad.”

Chang Ching-Ling started slow with a birdie and two bogeys on the front nine and finally began hitting her targets after the turn, stringing together five birdies in six holes from 10th to 15th hole. She made 9 fairways, 14 greens, just 28 attempts on the greens, and she would’ve been in solo lead if not for a late bogey on the 17th.

“I’m very pumped with the way I was able to bring my level up on the back nine. I fixed the little problems I had with my drivers quickly enough after the turn, which greatly improved my confidence,” said Chang. “Hopefully I will be in the zone right from the start tomorrow in the final round.”

Hou Yu-Chiang (侯羽薔) elevated her precision on the greens. She needed also just 28 putts in the second round, which was three putts better than the first round, and shot a 2-under 70 to move into equal third at 1-under 143. “I felt my short game improved a bit today, so I could place the ball to better spots on the undulating greens, which is key to scoring low on the Orient course, to find the right spot.”

Also at 143 was Thai player P. K. Kongkraphan, who posted an even-par 72 to maintain at just one shot off the lead. The day was tougher than the score suggests for the recent ICTSI Luisita Ladies International champion, as she only made 7 fairways and even had a water penalty on the 17th. “My tee shots were flying everywhere, and I’m glad the other parts of my game really held up,” Kongkraphan said.

Overnight leader Chang Tzu-Yi’s (張子怡) fatigue traveling from the LPGA’s Epson Tour and the TLPGA Tour over the past three weeks kind of caught up to her during the second half of Day 2. She had to take 32 putts and carded a 1-over 73 to fall into the three-way tie for third. “I felt a bit jet-legged and tired, especially into the late holes. I had to reset myself repeatedly on the tees because I felt so sleepy that I lost my focus a lot,” she explained. Chang made three birdies but committed four bogeys in today’s second round.

This week, 46 TLPGA Tour members, 44 Step-Up Tour players, as well as 18 special sponsor-invites battle it out for the co-sanction honor.

50 players at 10-over 154 or lower prevailed through to the final round on Saturday as a 36-hole cut was made, continuing their hopes to win a JPY5,400,000 top prize in the JPY30,000,000 event.