Stacy Lewis moved into position to take the top spot in the world, shooting a bogey-free eight-under 63 on Saturday to break the 36-hole record in the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
The second-ranked Lewis had a 12-under 130 total on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
A victory yesterday would guarantee Lewis the No. 1 ranking, which Inbee Park has held for 59 straight weeks after taking it from Lewis.
Park, playing in the windier afternoon session, had two bogeys and a double bogey on her final five holes to shoot 71 and fall seven strokes behind Lewis.
Lewis, the 2012 winner, won the North Texas LPGA Shootout four weeks ago.
Christina Kim was a stroke back after 67.
First-round leader Jennifer Johnson followed her course record 62 with a 70 to finish at 10 under.
Lewis also had shot 130 through two rounds at the ShopRite Classic in her 2012 victory. The only other players to finish the first two rounds of the ShopRite Classic at 130 were Amy Benz at Greate Bay Country Club in 1996 and Denise Killeen at Seaview in 2004.
Lewis came on strong in the second round after admitting she felt “uncomfortable over the ball” during her first nine holes on Friday.
She also climbed to the top of the leaderboard, despite a crazy travel week. After tying for 10th at the Airbus LPGA Classic in Mobile, Alabama last weekend, Lewis flew to Pinehurst, North Carolina, to play two practice rounds in preparation for the US Women’s Open on June 19-22. She then traveled to Seaview for Wednesday’s Shoprite Classic Pro-Am, flew in a private helicopter to New York City to participate in a press conference announcing the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, and returned to the Jersey Shore on Thursday.
Kim had her first bogey of the tournament on the par-four 16th, but rallied for five birdies on her next eight holes, the most memorable of which came when she drained a long putt on No. 5.
Anna Nordqvist (65) and Gerina Piller (67) were tied for fourth place at eight-under. Karrie Webb, last year’s winner, followed her opening-round 69 with 70 to reach three-under.
Third-ranked Lydia Ko (75) avoided missing her first cut in 27 career LPGA starts with birdies on her final two holes to finish at 1 over. The 17-year-old had five bogeys and triple bogeyed No. 4.
Taiwan’s former world No. 1 Yani Tseng shot a 72 for a one-over 143, while her compatriot Candie Kung missed the cut.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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