Thai teen Ariya clings to LPGA lead

May 04, 2013 | 10:32

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Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn fired an even-par 71 on Friday to keep a one-stroke lead after the second round of the $1.3 million LPGA Kingsmill Championship.

Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand hits her second shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the Kingsmill Championship at Kingsmill Resort on May 2, 2013 in Williamsburg, Virginia.
(AFP/Hunter Martin)

WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia - Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn fired an even-par 71 on Friday to keep a one-stroke lead after the second round of the $1.3 million LPGA Kingsmill Championship.

The 17-year-old, who is playing on a sponsor's exemption, stood on seven-under 135 after 36 holes for a one-stroke lead over US veterans Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford.

Norway's Suzann Pettersen, German Sandra Gal and American Cristie Kerr were fourth on 137 with China's Feng Shanshan, Japan's Ai Miyazato, South Koreans Lee Il-Hee and Ryu So-Yeon and Americans Juli Inkster and Katie Burnett on 138.

Ariya, of Bangkok, captured her first professional title in March, when she won the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco on the Ladies European Tour by three strokes.

On Friday, she began her round off the 10th tee and opened with a bogey, then stumbled back with bogeys at the par-4 16th and par-3 17th.

But she found her form with birdies at the par-5 third, par-3 fifth and par-5 seventh to jump back into the lead.

Ariya has finished in the top five in all three LPGA events she has competed in this season.

World number one Park In-Bee of South Korea fired a 72 to stand on 140, five off the pace in a share of 19th, while defending champion Shin Jiyai of South Korea also shot 72 to stand on 142 in a share of 27th.

AFP

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