Lee fires 64 to edge Miyazato for LPGA lead

PHOENIX, Arizona (AFP) –

Jee Young Lee of S.Korea hits a tee shot during the 2nd round of the LPGA Founders Cup, in Phoenix, on March 15, 2013

Jee Young Lee of South Korea hits a tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup, at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 15, 2013. Lee fired a bogey-free eight-under par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead over Japan’s Ai Miyazato.

South Korea’s Jee Young Lee fired a bogey-free eight-under par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead over Japan’s Ai Miyazato after the second round of the $1.5 million LPGA Founders Cup.

One day after Miyazato set a course-record with a 63 at Wildfire Golf Club, Lee on Friday shot the second-best round ever at the 6,583-yard layout to nudge her way atop the leaderboard past Miyazato with American Stacy Lewis third on 133.

Lee began her birdie binge at the par-5 fifth and then closed the front nine with three birdies. She stretched her run to four in a row by starting the back nine the same way, needing only 12 strokes on four par-4 holes.

Lee then closed with birdies on three of the last four holes, although she failed to match her success of seven back-nine birdies from the opening round.

Miyazato, who finished second in this event last year, birdied three of the first five holes but took her first bogey of the event at the par-3 six and even after back-to-back birdies closed the front nine with another bogey.

Birdies at the par-5 11th and par-4 12th put her back in the swing but she followed a birdie at the par-4 16th with another at the par-4 18th to finish one stroke behind Lee.

Lewis, fired a 68 in round one, began on the back nine and made a birdie at the 13th and eagled the 16th. She birdied three of the first five holes as well before taking a bogey at the sixth, but answered with birdies at seven and nine to stay on the Asian leaders’ heels.

Australian Lindsey Wright, Taiwan’s Candie Kung, South Korean Amy Yang and Americans Danielle Kang and Gerina Piller shared fourth on 135.

Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist, South Korean I.K. Kim, Germany’s Sandra Gal and Americans Daniela Iacobelli and Cristie Kerr were on 136.