China's Feng takes lead ahead of defending major title

China's Feng Shanshan, who next week defends her first major title, fired a four-under par 67 on Saturday to seize a three-stroke lead after the second round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Feng, who ran off four birdies in a row on the back nine, stood on six-under 136 after 36 holes in the $1.5 million event that concludes Sunday, with South Korean Kang Hae-Ji and Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn sharing second on 139.

After birdies at the par-4 second and par-5 third holes, Feng stumbled with a bogey at the par-3 eighth. Her run of four birdies in a row began at the 14th and included the par-3 15th and 17th holes, but Feng then closed with a bogey.

"My irons and putting have been really good," Feng said. "After four birdies, I was like, 'Oh, maybe I'm doing well right now,' and then started to have a little thinking. And then I made a bogey.

"But I think a 4-under round was still pretty good." Japan's Chie Arimura, who matched Feng for the day's low round, shared fourth with Sweden's Anna Nordqvist on 140.

Australian Karrie Webb, Americans Michelle Wie and Amanda Blumenhurst, South Korean Park Hee-Young and France's Karine Icher were another shot back.

Eighth-ranked Feng became the first Chinese player to win an LPGA tour event when she captured last year's LPGA Championship for her first major title, a crown she will defend next week in suburban Rochester, New York.

"After that win last year, it really gave me a lot more confidence," Feng said. "This year, I haven't been playing real well.I've made three top 10s on the LPGA but like seventh, eighth, ninth, nothing like really up top.

"I'm in good position this week and if I can have some good results this week, it's definitely going to give me more confidence for next week." This marked Feng's first week with new clubs from Japanese manufacturer Honma.

"I'm feeling really, really good," Feng said. "Nothing's really different, but I think just more effort, so I like them." Feng and Guan Tianlang, the 14-year-old Chinese amateur who was low amateur and the youngest-ever player at this year's Masters, have raised the profile of golf in China, which will host a new LPGA event later this year.

AFP