Canberra's Nikki Campbell may be 10-under par through two rounds at the ANZ Ladies Masters, but she could already be playing for second.
Korean star So Yeon Ryu carded a brilliant 11-under 61 to move to 17-under, and draw four strokes clear of her nearest rival, Dutchwoman Christel Boeljon, on the Gold Coast.
After bogeying her second hole, Ryu reeled off 12 birdies to equal the Royal Pines course record set by seven-time winner Karrie Webb in 2010.
Last year's runner-up Campbell mirrored her opening round 67 yesterday to grab a share of third place, but is still seven strokes behind last year's US Open winner.
As she did on day one, the Canberran went one-under through the front nine, before picking up four strokes on the home straight.
Webb is not playing this week but Korean sensation Ryu gave a great impersonation of the queen of Royal Pines with her blistering second round 61.
Ryu turned the tournament into a golf clinic dropping birdie after birdie as she surged to a commanding lead.
Her amazing round included 12 birdies and a bogey at her second hole before she reeled off five birdies in a row.
Before narrowly missing birdie at the 17th hole there was ''talk'' a 59 was possible after Boeljon had earlier eagled her last hole on the way to a seven-under 65.
Unfortunately, Ryu's stunning display can't be recognised as a course record with players allowed to lift and clean their golf balls due to the wet state of the golf course.
It's a pity Webb, who owns both the course record of 61 and tournament record of 262, isn't playing because she's probably the only golfer capable of taking the 5954-metre Royal Pines layout apart the way Ryu did.
Ryu's short game was simply mesmerising.
When she didn't knock it close, which she did most of the day, she merely chipped in like she did at the 137m par-three 11th hole.
Ryu's previous best round was a 62.
She said afterwards she could now sign her autographs ''Ryu 61'' following her new low round.
She also revealed she ''loved'' Vegemite and her nickname was ''Piggy'' because of her love of food.
She quickly explained that Piggy in Korean meant good luck.
Ryu didn't need any luck as she peppered the pins.
''My coach [Ian Triggs] says because I eat Vegemite I am 50per cent Australian,'' she said.
Boeljon, who has missed the cut in three previous visits to the Gold Coast, could have expected to be the halfway leader after her barnstorming birdie-birdie-eagle finish bolted her to 13 under.
Italy's Diana Luna and American Amelia Lewis both shot rounds of 64 to get to nine under.
Among the big name casualties to miss the weekend cut were England's Melissa Reid, despite finishing with an eagle and Katherine Hull who endured an incredibly frustrating day on the course.
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