American Angela Stanford fired her second consecutive six--under 66 to seize command of the LPGA Founders Cup on Saturday, stretching her lead to three shots in the 54-hole event.
Stanford birdied three par-five holes — the second, fifth and 15th — for the second day in a row to stand on 12-under 132, three shots atop compatriot Brittany Lincicome, with South Korean Mindy Kim third on 136.
US veteran Cristie Kerr was fourth on 137, with Australian Karrie Webb, South Korean Lee Seon-hwa and American Mina Harigae sharing fifth on 138, one stroke in front of American Paula Creamer and South Korea’s Yoo Sun-young.
Photo: AFP
Stanford was somewhat shocked at her second-round success after not being able to find her rhythm in warming up.
Stanford, who led by a stroke after the first round, quickly opened a gap atop the leaderboard and watched as Kim and Lincicome charged after her in the afternoon at the unique event where all prize money goes to charity.
After her birdie at the second, Stanford suffered her lone bogey of the day at the third, but responded with birdies on the fourth and fifth holes.
Birdies at the eighth and 10th holes stretched Stanford’s margin and birdies at the 15th and par-three 17th secured her lead as she seeks a fifth LPGA crown in her 11th tour season. Overconfidence will not be a problem, she said.
The US$1 million purse will be split among charities, half going to LPGA youth programs and the rest being divided among groups determined by the top 10 finishers, the winner making a US$200,000 contribution to her favorite charity.
Stanford is playing for her own foundation, which provides scholarships for families who are battling cancer. She choked up when talking about her mother, who had breast cancer, and a member of her foundation board who died of liver cancer and whose daughter watched her round.
The tournament is staging a special donation to the Japanese disaster relief effort, with money going for every birdie and eagle over the closing three holes.
US veteran Juli Inkster, hoping to become the oldest winner in LPGA history at age 50, fired a 76 to stand 12 off the pace.
World No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan, who won the LPGA season opener in Thailand, fired her second 73 in a row, while her compatriot Amy Hung fared better after carding a 69.
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