Angela Stanford stayed ahead at the Safeway International on Friday as some of the LPGA Tour's top players made their moves in the US$1.5 million tournament.
Stanford carded a three-under-par 69 on Friday to cling to a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa after two rounds.
Stanford, whose sparkling 10-under 62 on Thursday had given her a three-shot lead over Mexico's Ochoa, moved to 13-under 131 and saw the gap dwindle.
"You know, I was pretty pleased with the round today, because I know after shooting a career round for me, you really don't know what to expect the next day," Stanford said. "So I really tried to keep the same mindset and give myself chances and just roll my putts."
Ochoa carded six birdies and one bogey in her second-round 67 for sole possession of second place on 132, two shots ahead of South Korea's Lee Jee-young (67).
Former world number one Annika Sorenstam also made a charge, posting a bogey-free 67 that put her five shots back and into a tie with Michele Redman one eight-under 136.
For a moment, it looked as if Stanford was poised to turn the tournament into a runaway.
Winner of just one previous LPGA title, in 2003, Stanford started on the back nine and birdied her first three holes to get to 13-under.
However, a stretch of three bogeys in six holes -- her first bogeys of the tournament -- brought Stanford back to 10-under par.
She bounced back with three birdies in a five-hole span to keep defending champion Ochoa in her rear-view mirror.
Women's Indian Open
AFP, GURGAON, INDIA
Thai teenager Pornanong Phatlum clinched her second title in 40 days when she won the Women's Indian Open on Friday.
The 19-year-old finished with a par round of 72 for a three-round total of 212 to win by four strokes from Wei Yun-jye of Taiwan and Japan's Yuki Sakurai, who closed the Ladies Asian Tour event with scores of 71 and 73 respectively.
"I knew from the opening round that I was going to win this as my form has been very consistent," said Pornanong, who also won the Thailand Ladies Open last month.
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