Honda LPGA Thailand
Siam Country Club, Plantation Course
Pattaya City, Chonburi, Thailand
Feb. 27, 2009

Second-round interviews: Brittany Lang | Morgan Pressel | Paula Creamer

Quick Quotes: Lorena Ochoa

Second-round notes

Bogey-free round lifts Lang into lead. Brittany Lang, of the United States, took a one-stroke lead over the 60-player field heading into Saturday's third round of the Honda LPGA Classic. With a bogey-free 3-under-par 69, Lang is sitting at 7-under-par 137 (68-69) after 36 holes, one stroke ahead of fellow Americans Morgan Pressel (70-68) and Paula Creamer (68-70), who are tied for second at 6-under-par 138.

Lang noted earlier in the week that the course fits her eye and is on track to her seventh consecutive top-10 finish, dating back to the Longs Drugs Challenge last October, where she tied for fifth. Most recently, she tied for seventh at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay, Feb. 14, 2009.

Lang's career-best finishes

Park sets course record, career low. For the second day in a row, a player in the first group of the day at the Honda LPGA Thailand set a high mark for those who followed to aspire to. Second-year Tour member Hee Young Park carded a perfect career-low 8-under-par 64 (31-33), which is the low-round of the tournament, to date, on the Plantation Course at Siam Country Club. Park was steady to start the day, but then took control of the course with six birdies on holes four through 10, only making par on hole eight. Closing out the round, Park found a birdie on 15 and another on 18. After a 7-over-par 79 first round, her second-round mark brought her up the leaderboard from a tie for 59th to a tie for 19th after 36 holes.

Defending champion Suzann Pettersen owns the tournament record from a third-round 9-under-par 63 in 2007, which was contested on Siam Country Club's Pattaya Old Course.

Americans dominate leaderboard. A group of four young Americans sit at the top of the leaderboard at the Honda LPGA Thailand, led by Brittany Lang (68-69) with a bogey-free 7-under-par 137. U.S. Solheim Cup teammates Morgan Pressel (70-68) and Paula Creamer (68-70) are tied for second just one stroke back, while four-time LPGA Tour winner and two-time Solheim Cup selection Angela Stanford is tied for fourth at 5-under-par 139 (68-71), poised to earn her eighth consecutive top-six finish.

Amateur Jutanugarn tied for 29th. Moriya Jutanugarn, one of two amateur sponsor exemptions at the 2009 Honda LPGA Thailand, is holding her own in the field of 60, which includes the top 10 players on the Rolex Rankings. Jutanugarn, who caddied for her sister Ariya at the 2007 Honda LPGA Thailand, has carded a 73-72=145 (+1) to sit tied for 29th entering this weekend's final two rounds. Ariya finished the 2007 event tied for 51st.

Ochoa cuts standing in half, tied for sixth. An opening round 1-under-par 71 put 2008 Rolex Player of the Year Lorena Ochoa tied for 12th in her debut at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Thanks to a four-birdie, one-bogey 3-under-par 69, Ochoa's overall score of 4-under-par 140 puts her in a five-way tie for sixth with Tour rookie Mika Miyazato and Eun-Hee Ji, who own matching rounds of 73-67; and Kristy McPherson and Helen Alfredsson who each carded rounds of 68-72.

Second-round interviews: Brittany Lang | Morgan Pressel | Paula Creamer

Quick Quotes: Lorena Ochoa

Brittany Lang, 68-69=137 (-7)
Scorecard: Hole 5, 287-yard par 4: birdie- drove the green to 20 feet, two putt
Hole 6, 515-yard par 5: birdie- 4-iron to 30 feet, two putt
Hole 13, 520-yard par 5: birdie- 3-iron (hybrid) to 35 feet, two putt

DANA GROSS-RHODE: Brittany, you mentioned yesterday that you felt the course set up well for your eye. Can you expand on that and how you got through this round bogey-free?
BRITTANY LANG: It is a great golf course for me. The greens are firm and I hit the ball high. It is a long course, so I can hit the par 5s or par 4s with wedge shots for my approaches to the green. As long as I can use my wedge and my chip, I will have an easy round.

Q. On the fifth hole, you drove the green? How far are you averaging on your drives?
BRITTANY LANG: I'm not sure. It is still firm out here and the ball runs forever. I hit my ball really well today. I hit it really solid.

Q. You are close to winning the title, how confident are you?
BRITTANY LANG: I feel really good on this course. My goal this year is to put myself in the position to win every chance I can get. If I fail, it is fine. I want to have the opportunity to win and that is what I am working for.

Q. What have I done differently from last year?
BRITTANY LANG: I have really worked hard on my mental game. I just try to be loose and free. I just try to get back to basics. I have to remind myself that I am out there to hit the ball in the hole. I try to have fun out there, to be less rigid.

Q. Do you suffer from hot weather?
BRITTANY LANG: No, I don't suffer. I need to make sure that I get some rest. I'm from Texas, so I'm used to the heat, but I'm just coming off of winter, I am not used to the heat.

Morgan Pressel, 70-68=138 (-6)
Scorecard: Hole 2, 537-yard par 5: birdie- lob wedge from 50 yards to 12 feet
Hole 8, 145-yard par 3: birdie- 7-iron to six feet
Hole 13, 520-yard par 5: birdie- sand wedge to 15 feet
Hole 14, 396-yard par 4: bogey- 9-iron over the green, chip back over the green, chip to one foot
Hole 17, 423-yard par 4: birdie- chip in from 25 feet off right side of the green
Hole 18, 360-yard par 4: birdie- 7-iron to four feet

DANA GROSS-RHODE: Morgan, you had a great round today and right now you are tied for second, after making birdie on the 18th. How are you holding up in the heat?
MORGAN PRESSEL: It wasn't quite as hot as yesterday. I won't deny it's not hot there, but it was a little bit better. I guess growing up in Florida helped me to cope with this weather.

I hit the ball well and played solidly. Yesterday, I hit it a lot better. I made some good par putts today. I also managed to make a couple of birdies at the end. I chipped in at the 17th hole and that helped.

Q. What has been the strongest part of your game since the start of this season and bringing yourself back to where you were last year?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I guess it is about consistency. I practiced a lot during the off-season. I played well in Turtle Bay and my results were reflected. I was quite nervous on the first day. I just hit it solidly and haven't made too many mistakes. I just managed to get the putt in the hole, I guess. When you putt well, it makes everything a lot easier. I made some good putts.

Q. You are just one stroke behind the leader, how confident are you about winning this tournament?
MORGAN PRESSEL: There are still two days left. My game plan won't change probably through the entire week. The greens are firm, so it makes it difficult to get the ball close. So, I will go for the pin as often as I can.

Q. You have been here for two consecutive years. What do you like about this country?
MORGAN PRESSEL: It is a beautiful country and I love Thailand. People are really nice. It is fun to travel the world. We see all different places. You are in Thailand this week and Singapore next week. Sometimes you miss home but it is nice to experience different cultures and the way different people live.

Paula Creamer, 68-70=138 (-6)
Scorecard: Hole 1, 375-yard par 4: bogey- 8-iron from 132 yards over the green, chip to 30 feet, two putt
Hole 3, 164-yard par 3: bogey- 5-iron over the green, chip to 15 feet, two putt
Hole 5, 287-yard par 4: birdie- lob wedge from 43 yards to one foot
Hole 6, 515-yard par 5: birdie- lob wedge from 63 yards to 18 feet
Hole 7, 382-yard par 4: birdie- 8-iron from 141 yards to six feet
Hole 14, 396-yard par 4: birdie- 7-iron from 154 yards to 30 feet

DANA GROSS-RHODE: Paula, you've said all week you were here to win and you're now tied for second and are on your way to battle for title. Your thoughts after today's round?
PAULA CREAMER: It was not the best start for me, 2-under after four holes. After fifth hole, I felt that I got back to normal. I felt more relaxed and made a couple birdies in a row. From there on, I played pretty solidly. I can't be too upset as to how things went out there today.

Q. What is the different between today and yesterday?
PAULA CREAMER: I had lot of chances on the par 5s and I just made up and down putts for birdies. Anytime I had wedge in my hand, I didn't make a good chance for birdie.

Q. It seems like you enjoy giving your autograph, aren't you tired of doing that?
PAULA CREAMER: The fans come out and watch me. They support my golf and LPGA golf. It is nice to give 15 or 20 minutes of my time. I think I can do that everyday. It is great to be out there with support. I wouldn't be here without the fans.

Q. What will you wear tomorrow?
PAULA CREAMER: I will wear grey and black. Also, I will wear a pink hat.

Q. You design what you wear?
PAULA CREAMER: Yes, I love clothes. (laughing) I love putting an outfit together and I know well in advance what I am wearing.

QUICK QUOTES

Lorena Ochoa, 71-69=140 (-4)

Q. Lorena, we missed you yesterday. Can you talk about your first two rounds on the Plantation course at the Honda LPGA Thailand?
LORENA OCHOA: Hello, everyone. It has been a great week so far. I started a little but slow yesterday but a little earlier today. I hope I could get a few more birdies to get me in the front position. I like where I am. I still have two more days, which will be very important to shoot a lower score.

Q. How hard do you prepare for this year starting of the season?
LORENA OCHOA: Very hard. I prepared myself even harder than the year before. I changed my swing, my grip and my putter. These are something to keep me motivated. I like the things I saw on the course. I need to continue practicing hard.

Q. Can you talk about you have been out to the heat and getting it through the heat? You are a good heat player but what does it take to do well?
LORENA OCHOA: For sure, I like hot weather. Mexico is nice and warm like here. I think you need to get used to humidity because it affects how far you can hit the ball. You need to keep yourself hydrated. I am doing okay. I feel good. I feel that I am in a good shape. I hope tomorrow we will have another beautiful day and continue making birdies.

Q. We have many good players' name on the board, do you prefer to be a leader going into the final round?
LORENA OCHOA: This week is my first week and I am not surprised. The competition is getting stronger and stronger. There are many good players. I can accept anything. When you are behind, you need to work harder. You need to be very patient and play one day at a time. The most important thing is to give myself a chance on Sunday.

Q. What does it feel like to be engaged?
LORENA OCHOA: It has been good. I am happy. It is nice to get back here and tell this story again. It has been a fine year for me. I think I enjoy a lot both inside and outside the golf course. I still have a few more tournaments to play. I have one more year before I get married. I am excited and happy for this next part of my life.