Miyazato shares Lotte lead, Wie misses cut
Japan's Ai Miyazato shot a bogey-free 65 to grab a share of the lead at the LPGA's LOTTE Championship on Thursday while local favourite Michelle Wie failed to make the cut.
Miyazato, a seven-time winner on the LPGA Tour, needed just 25 putts in Thursday's second round to reach an eight-under 136 total and is tied atop the leaderboard with Spain's Azahara Munoz, who shot an eight-under 64.
"My putting was really good today," Miyazato said. "I hit really solid on so many putts and I hit the ball well. I didn't miss any fairways. My short game was really good, too. That's why I shot seven-under."
The same could not be said for Wie, who struggled in blustery conditions and missed the cut for the third consecutive tournament.
She shot 76 to go with an six-over 78 in the opening round. Wie had a quadruple-bogey nine on the par-five first – her 10th hole of the round.
Munoz, who is chasing her first LPGA Tour win, holed out from 102 yards for eagle on the par-four sixth hole. She also rolled in eight birdies, including four on the final five holes.
"On six, I holed my second shot and then hit another two like that close," Munoz said. "It was a really nice round."
Jimin Kang (66) and Cristie Kerr (68) were at six-under.
Taiwanese star Yani Tseng fired an even-par 72 to drop into a tie for 12th at three under. Tseng has won three of the first half dozen tournaments this season.
Leading second-round scores (USA unless noted):
136 - Azahara Munoz (ESP) 72-64, Ai Miyazato (JPN) 71-65
138 - Jimin Kang (KOR) 72-66, Cristie Kerr 70-68
139 - Meena Lee (KOR) 74-65, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 70-69, Brittany Lang 69-70
140 - Paula Creamer 73-67, Inbee Park (KOR) 70-70, Jiyai Shin (KOR) 69-71, Angela Stanford 69-71
141 - Haeji Kang (KOR) 74-67, Morgan Pressel 72-69, So-Yeon Ryu (KOR) 71-70, Brittany Lincicome 70-71, Elisa Serramia (ESP) 70-71, Yani Tseng (TPE) 69-72
