PITTSFORD, New York: Morgan Pressel fired four birdies in a two-under 70 yesterday to take a two-stroke lead over world number one Park In-Bee and Chella Choi after two rounds of the LPGA Championship.
Pressel had a 36-hole total of six-under 138 at soggy Locust Hill Country Club.
Park climbed up the leaderboard with a four-under 68 for 140, while overnight leader Choi carded a one-over 73.
The leaders face a demanding day today, with both the third and fourth rounds scheduled after rain washed out play on Thursday in the second women’s major of the year.
Rain has continued over the last two days, leaving the course soft and in many places muddy.
Wet weather didn’t faze Pressel, who birdied three of her first six holes.
“I got off to a good start, had a birdie opportunity on 10, but didn’t go in and then made one on 11. I started to hit my driver a little bit to the right, but made great par saves on 12 and 13, and then two great birdies on 14 and 15 to get me off to a really good and comfortable start,” she said.
After bogeys at 16 and 18, Pressel played a steady second nine that included a birdie at the par-five eighth.
“The question will be just how committed I can be to every shot because when you get tired your mind starts to wander,” she said.
Park, whose Kraft Nabisco victory in April was her second major title after the 2008 US Women’s Open, had five birdies and just one bogey.
“I hit the ball great today,” she said.
“I only missed, like, two fairways and three greens and it wasn’t really in the long stuff today. So that was a big help,” she added. AFP
