Se Ri Pak shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Brittany Lincicome and Wendy Ward in the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.Pak, who opened on the 10th tee, had five birdies in a six-hole stretch on her final nine holes to top the second-round leaderboard at 9 under on The Crossings course at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail's Magnolia Grove complex.
Pak won events on the course in 2001 and 2002.
"Of course I have such a great memory about it," Pak said. "I play really well and the scores are really low, too. That helps a lot.
"I know so many holes, where to miss, how to play, how to make the shot. That actually helps a lot, especially during this week."
Many of the players wore purple ribbons and wristbands with "EB" and a heart honoring Erica Blasberg, a 25-year-old tour player who was found dead in suburban Las Vegas on Sunday. The flag was at half-staff.
Police have not said if they suspect foul play and the coroner said a ruling on a cause of death was pending blood and tissue tests that could take four to six weeks to complete.
Ward had the low round with a 65, six strokes better than her opener.
Lincicome got off to a fast start with birdies on six of her opening seven holes, but had a finishing bogey for a 66.
First-round leader Azahara Munoz was in a group of four players three strokes back after a double bogey on No. 17 and a 73.
The 22-year-old former Spanish amateur star and 2008 NCAA individual champion for Arizona State had navigated the course unscathed in scoring a bogey-free 65 to open.
The Hall of Famer Pak is pushing $11 million in career earnings but hasn't finished better than 15th in her first five events of 2010 or won since the 2007 Owens Corning Classic. She withdrew from the Tres Marias Championship in Mexico two weeks ago after an opening 84. She said putting has been a problem since last fall.
"I really have been struggling on the green, but golf is a patient game so I'm kind of patient myself and keep working exactly the same thing and change a little bit of routine," Pak said. "Finally, I make some putts here and there and then (that) gets me my feel back and then I have a lot of confidence back. And then of course I have a great chance."
-Associated Press
