Gerina Piller is halfway to her first LPGA Tour victory.
Piller shot a three-under-par 68 on Friday and took a one-stroke lead over four players after two rounds of the Marathon Classic Presented by Owens Corning and O-I in Sylvania, Ohio.
At 11-under 131 after 36 holes, Piller was just ahead of Taiwan’s Chien Pei-yun, Lexi Thompson, Nelly Korda and Kim In-kyung of South Korea.
Photo: AFP
Norda moved into contention with a sizzling 64, Thompson posted a 65, Kim carded a 67 and Chien shot a 68 at the Highland Meadows Golf Club.
Piller, who opened with a 63 on Thursday, started on the back nine and had one birdie before the turn. After a bogey at the par-three second hole, she ran off a string of three successive birdies on par-four holes and then made pars the rest of the way.
“I feel like I was pretty steady. I kind of had a par streak going there, but I gave myself chances for birdie and at that point you’ve just got to be patient and there’s some birdie holes out there,” Piller said.
Piller knows there is still a long way to go before she can claim her first win on the LPGA Tour.
She has four runner-up finishes during her eight-year career.
“Well, it’s only Friday, so I wouldn’t put the cart before the horse, but to get that first win I think would be really special, no matter where it is,” said Piller, who is No. 25 in the Rolex World Rankings.
US Women’s Open champion Park Sung-hyun (70) was tied for seventh at eight-under 134.
Other Taiwanese were Min Lee at four-under after a 70 and Candie Kung at two-under after a 72, while Yani Tseng and Cheng Ssu-chia were cut.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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