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Angela Stanford holds onto lead at LPGA tournament

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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