Michelle Wie shot a bogey-free five-under 66 on Friday, leaving her a stroke behind leader Alena Sharp in the NW Arkansas Championship.
Wie, who won the US Women’s Open last weekend, played the back nine in four-under 31 at Pinnacle Country Club on Friday.
Sharp, the Canadian ranked 234th in the world, had only 27 putts in her opening 65.
Mexico’s Alejandra Llaneza matched Wie with a bogey-free 66.
Top-ranked Stacy Lewis was two-over after four holes before she recovered to finish with a 70.
Ten players, including major champions So Yeon-ryu and Feng Shanshan, shot 67.
After Sharp finished at 6 under in the morning, Wie overcame windy conditions to post the best round of the afternoon, needing only 28 putts and closing with a birdie.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung shot a one-under 70, while her compatriot Yani Tseng shot an even-par 71.
Wie spent much of her week leading into the tournament busy with national television appearances following her first major win, and she did not hit the course until Thursday.
The whirlwind schedule and late arrival did not slow her on Friday. She has two tournament wins and has made the cut every time this year.
Sharp entered this week having missed the cut in six of her 11 LPGA Tour events this year.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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