After abnormally calm conditions on Thursday, the winds that made the Blue Bay LPGA a challenge over the past two years returned again on Friday. But they weren’t enough to blow first round leader Minjee Lee off course as she cruised to a bogey-free, five-under par 67 to lead by six through 36-holes. The Australian leads Caroline Masson at six-under par. Jessica Korda and Carlota Ciganda are T-3 at five-under par.
“I don't think it's easy out there. It's still windy and the greens are really undulated so you have to be in the right places. Yeah, it's not easy, and I don't find it that easy,” Lee said about Friday’s conditions. “I don't mind the wind, so I guess it's not a bad thing. Yeah, I'll just play with whatever, I'll just adjust to the wind.”
On day two, Lee quickly extended her lead ahead of Germany’s Sandra Gal, who trailed by two after day one. Lee went out in 33 to lead by four-strokes at the turn. But then she started to scramble and despite posting seven consecutive pars never relinquished her lead. In a repeat of day one, Lee closed with birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to extend her lead to six.
“I think I had a pretty solid round today. I had three-under the first nine, so I was happy with my start. In the middle, I had a couple loose shots here and there, but I could get up-and-down,” Lee told the media. “Then I finished off with two birdies. Overall, pretty solid round.”
Masson leaped ahead of fellow German, Sandra Gal, on the leaderboard with four birdies in her last five holes for a second round three-under par, 69 to to sit at six-under par heading into the weekend. The 2013 rookie broke through this season at the Manulife LPGA Classic for her first career win on the LPGA Tour and could pick up another victory this week on a course where she has consistently played well and finished runner-up in 2014.
Michelle Wie, who received a sponsor invite this week, sits at two-under par through 36-holes in a share of 10th after opening with rounds of 72 - 70 for her best start to a Tournament since the ANA Inspiration. That week, she posted first round scores of 70 - 69 and finished T-36 for one of two top-50s for the world No.167 this year.
Click here for complete scores from the second round of the Blue Bay LPGA.
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