This story was produced by the LPGA Symetra Tour

HARRIS----Peiyun Chien (Chinese Taipei), who goes by “money”, carded a 5-under, 67, to take the outright 18-hole lead on Friday at the Island Resort Championship. She made eight birdies on the day and has a one shot lead over two-time winner Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden) and Jennifer Brumbaugh (Scotts Valley, Calif.).

Chien, 25, made 11 starts on the Symetra Tour in 2012 and one in 2013, but has been playing in Asia since until this year. She played in the Island Resort Championship in 2012 and shot an 80 on day one and missed the cut.

Safe to say that she has come a long way.

“I had eight birdies and two 3-putts, but my putter was working,” said Chien, who ranks 12th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list with $27,476 earned in nine starts. “My longest putt was 15-feet on 17, but most were pretty close. My irons were good today.”

Chien said she took advantage of softer greens and was able to stick her approach shots close. She needed just 27 putts.

Chein has been playing well of late. She has two straight top 10 finishes and five total for the season. She is still seeking her first career win.

SAGSTROM OPENS STRONG, IN CONTENTION FOR 3RD WIN: To most on Tour, a T20 finish at the Four Winds Invitational would be considered solid. Madelene Sagstrom (Enkoping, Sweden) has set higher standards based on her performance this year. On Friday, she started strong with a 4-under 68.

“I just felt a little off last week with a lot happening on and off the golf course,” admitted Sagstrom. “I’m happy to be more relaxed this week and more in balance. I’m pretty close to being right where I want to be. I’m really excited by the way I hit the ball and putted today.”

Sagstrom made six birdies on the day and said she stayed out of trouble most of the day with exception of 18 when she made a good swing, but hit the ball through the fairway and into the water.

“I hit a bunch of fairways and a bunch of greens and gave myself a lot of good chances for birdie,” said Sagstrom. “I took advantage of a few, left a few out there, but it was about the consistency today of staying out of trouble.”

Sagstrom won the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial and the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation Women’s Health Classic and is one win from a “Battlefield Promotion” to the LPGA.

“Obviously, everyone wants to win but I am not putting pressure on it,” said Sagstrom. “I’m just trying to play my best golf and today was a good round so if I keep it up I think I have a chance for a third of course.”

Sagstrom is gearing up for a big weekend while also thinking about a huge event coming up - the U.S. Women’s Open, which she qualified for last month.

“I kind of have it in the back of my head to prepare as good as I can,” said Sagstrom, who will take off next week at the Tullymore Classic to get ready for the Open. “I’m just trying to work on different shots and situations that I will face there.”

Sagstrom said that Sweetgrass Golf Club reminds her of some of the golf courses in Sweden.

“I’m in love with the course and really enjoying every single step that I take,” said Sagstrom. “We have a course in the south (of Sweden) that this really reminds me of. The high grass, the trees, the fact that it is open and windy makes it pretty similar to what I grew up playing.”

Don’t forget that a Swede, Dani Holmqvist, won the 2015 Island Resort Championship.