The TLPGA official money list leader Lu Ya-Huei (呂雅惠) from Chinese Taipei is in position to finally capture her first victory in 2013 as she posted a 3-under 69 at the TLPGA South Taiwan Open to secure a 4-shot advantage at 136 heading into the final third round.

The first-round leader took half her day to heat up to where she was yesterday, carding just one bogey throughout the front nine before she regained the concentration and fired four birdies on the back nine to widen her leading gap.

“I was having too much going on in the head,” said Lu. “And then I kind of told myself ‘just let it go with your instinct,’ and things got different!”

Lu is looking to end an exact one year winless drought and further strengthen her status to be the year-end no.1. She was the winner in last year’s TLPGA South Taiwan Open after a tense final round when she was pushed by compatriot Cheng Meng Chu (陳孟竺) to the play-off.

“Now that’s a four shot advantage I have tomorrow and I might be taking some ease and see what others do before I come up with a clear strategy,” added Lu. “It should be a good Friday.”

First-round co-leader Cyna Rodriguez of the Philippines went down to the second place at 2-under 140 after posting a disappointing 73 today. “Today I was not as confident on my drives and some approaches,” said Rodriguez. “Of course I want to win. I’ll have to try my best to stay on the fairway for more opportunities.”

Already a two-time TLPGA winner this year, Cheng Ssu-Chia (程思嘉), made a charge up the leaderboard to the third place after a bogey-free 69, sitting five shots back of the leader at 1-under par 141. But the Taiwanese teen feels confident that the win is still within striking distance. “If I keep doing the same things I’ve done the last two days, I think I got a good chance!”

The 16-year-old amateur has triumphed in the Chung Cheng Ladies Open (中正杯公開賽) and Fubon Ladies Open (富邦公開賽), both in this season, and become the youngest amateur in the TLPGA history at 15 years and 8 month to ever notch a title.

There is a four-way tie of the young generation at fourth at 142 that includes Chen Yu-Ju (陳宇茹), who had a low round of the day 68, Lee Min (李旻), and Chien Pei-Yun (錢珮芸).