US teenager Lexi Thompson fired eight birdies in a sparkling eight-under-par 64 on Friday to grab a share of the LPGA Kraft Nabisco Championship lead alongside Hall-of-Famer Pak Se-ri of South Korea.
Thompson’s effort in perfect morning conditions on the Dinah Shore Tournament Course at the Mission Hills Country Club gave her a seven-under-par total of 137.
She was joined atop the leaderboard at the half-way stage of the first women’s major of the year by Pak, who had two birdies in a two-under 70.
Photo: AFP
The two are one stroke in front of the US’ Michelle Wie, who had two birdies and one bogey in her 71 for 138.
First-round leader Feng Shanshan of China was tied for the lead after a birdie at the par-four seventh in her 16th hole of the day, but she closed with back-to-back bogeys for a one-over 73 that left her tied for fourth with Cristie Kerr on 139.
Feng, whose 2012 LPGA Championship win made her the first Chinese golfer to claim a major title, finished with four bogeys and three birdies. Kerr carded a 70 to get to five-under.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung was tied for 28th after shooting par-144 after rounds of 74 and 70.
Pak, winner of five major titles, is seeking her first Kraft Nabisco Championship win, while Thompson, 19, is seeking the first major win of a career that saw her become what was then the youngest LPGA Tour winner in 2011 aged just 16.
Additional reporting by Staff writer
CADIZ OPEN
AFP, CADIZ, Spain
England’s David Horsey and Marc Warren of Scotland shared a one-shot lead at the EPGA Cadiz Open on Friday, but 45 players were unable to finish their second rounds after poor lighting halted play.
A lengthy delay for rain on Thursday had already made half the field complete their first rounds in the morning and the knock-on effect wreaked further havoc.
Warren, who completed a level-par 72 in the delayed first round, fired 67 to set the clubhouse target at five-under-par on Friday.
Horsey was four-under-par for his round with three holes left when play was halted for the day.
Chile’s Felipe Aguilar was tied for third with Bradley Dredge and Adrian Otaegui on four-under following a round of 69.
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