South Africa's Paula Reto fired a six-under 66 to take a three-shot lead over Hur Mi-Jung after 36 holes of the LPGA Tour's Yokohama Tire Classic.
Tour rookie Reto completed the first two rounds at the Capitol Hill Golf Club course at 13-under-par. Her 131 total matched the tournament's 36-hole record that Stacy Prammanasudh set in 2007.
"I was just really patient with myself. I hit a couple good irons especially early in the round. I hit a couple close, so that was nice, got the momentum going pretty early," Reto said.
South Korea's Hur carded a two-under 70 and is alone in second place at minus-10. World number one Stacy Lewis managed a 71 and is alone in third at nine-under 135. Lewis and Hur shared the first round lead on Thursday.
American Sydnee Michaels fired a seven-under 65, the low round of the day on Friday to vault into a tie for fourth at seven under. Michaels was joined there by Alison Walshe (68) and Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn (69).
Jane Park (70), Christina Kim (71) and Cydney Clanton (72) are tied for seventh at six-under 138.
Reto began her Friday round on the back nine. She made birdie at the fourth hole and another at the sixth. However, she gave one back by making bogey on the par-three seventh. Reto made amends for that error with a birdie on the ninth, her last hole of the day.
"It was nice to birdie the last hole yesterday as well as today, that was really nice," Reto said. "Just trying to stay patient and not think too much, just simple things."
Source: AFP