Pak Se-ri shot a six-under 66 to take a one-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome and Wendy Ward after Friday’s second round of the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.
Pak had five birdies in a six-hole stretch on her final nine holes to move her to nine-under 135 after two rounds on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail’s Magnolia Grove complex.
Pak won events on the course in 2001 and 2002.
“I have such a great memory about it,” Pak said. “I play really well and the scores are really low too. That helps a lot. I know so many holes, where to miss, how to play, how to make the shot. That actually helps a lot, especially during this week.”
Ward had the low round with a 65, six strokes better than her opener.
Lincicome got off to a fast start with birdies on six of her opening seven holes, but had a finishing bogey for a 66.
First-round leader Azahara Munoz was in a group of four players three strokes back after a double bogey on 17 and a 73.
Taiwan’s Amy Hung was six strokes behind the leader after a 71 gave her a three-under 141. Fellow Taiwanese world No. 3 Yani Tseng carded a 70 for a one-under total of 143, while compatriot Candie Kung missed the cut after an even-par 72 for 146.
Pak is pushing US$11 million in career earnings, but hasn’t finished better than 15th in her first five events of this year or won since the 2007 Owens Corning Classic. She withdrew from the Tres Marias Championship in Mexico two weeks ago after an opening 84.
“I really have been struggling on the green, but golf is a patient game, so I’m kind of patient myself and keep working exactly the same thing and change a little bit of routine,” Pak said. “Finally, I make some putts here and there and then [that] gets me my feel back and then I have a lot of confidence back, and then of course I have a great chance.”
Ward, a 15-year veteran who turned 37 last week, took a more dramatic step after a slow start this year. She turned to Lori Brock, her coach of about 10 years ago to jump-start her game. They reunited before the tournament in Mexico.
“It’s simple again,” said Ward, who birdied the final two holes. “It’s fun and it’s simple, and that’s the way this game needs to be.”
The long-driving Lincicome rapidly climbed the leaderboard with her fast start.
“I did really good on that nine [Thursday], so there’s definitely something about that nine that I like,” Lincicome said.”
Lincicome lost a share of the lead with a finishing bogey after her approach shot from the fringe of the trees left of the fairway overshot the green. Then she two-putted from about 25 feet.
Jiyai Shin, who took over as world No. 1 from the retired Lorena Ochoa, was five strokes behind Pak after her second straight 70.
Japanese star Ai Miyazato, coming off her third win in the first five events of the season, was another shot back after a 71.
Michelle Wie made the cut by a stroke, following her opening 72 with a 73.
Additional reporting by Staff Writer
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