World number six Suzann Pettersen has produced three back-nine birdies to take a one-shot lead over Ai Miyazato at the LPGA LOTTE Championship. Pettersen carded a three-under 69 to move to 10-under overall at the Ko Olina Golf Club in Hawaii and stay one stroke clear of reigning champion Miyazato. Spain&aposs Beatriz Recari, as well as South Korean pair Hyo Joo Kim and Hee Kyung Seo were next on the leaderboard in a tie for third, two shots behind Miyazato, while overnight leader Ariya Jutanugarn plummeted to a tie for seventh after a three-over 75. Pettersen was at even par in Friday&aposs second round after a bogey on the 10th hole but birdies on the 11th, 13th and 16th saw the 32-year-old Norwegian take the overall lead at the LPGA tournament. Miyazato could have finished ahead of Pettersen but bogeys on the 10th, 12th and 14th holes meant the 27-year-old Japanese could only card a four-under 68 to finish on nine-under overall. Recari, Kim and Seo sit at seven under, while world number two Stacy Lewis is sixth at six under. Meanwhile, Jutanugarn had a horror day in Hawaii with three bogeys and a double-bogey on the 16th hole to drop five shots behind Pettersen. Karrie Webb and Julia Boland are the leading Australians at one-under, nine shots off the pace.
Author: Omnisport