Spain's Recari catches fire in Carlsbad
CARLSBAD, California (AFP) –
Beatriz Recari of Spain lines up a putt during Round Two of the LPGA 2013 Kia Classic at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, California on March 22, 2013. Recari fired a bogey-free five-under 67 to seize a one-shot lead after the second round
Spain’s Beatriz Recari fired a bogey-free five-under 67 to seize a one-shot lead after the second round of the LPGA Tour‘s $1.7 million Kia Classic.
Recari, who has two international career victories, posted her second bogey-free round to reach eight-under 136 overall.
Australian Hall of Famer Karrie Webb shot a two-under 70 to remain tied for second place at seven-under at the Aviara Golf Club course. She was joined there by American Paula Creamer (68).
The 25-year-old Recari had five birdies Friday as she made her 38th straight cut.
She was one of just three players last year to make the cut in each of her starts. Recari said her consistency over her 27 tournaments last season had boosted her confidence for 2013.
“Well, definitely the consistency gave me a lot of confidence because that definitely showed me that I was on the right track and doing the right things,” she said.
“In the winter I just focused on raising the bar in my short game. I felt that maybe my short game wasn’t at the high level that I wanted to have last year.
“I took a lot of positives from last year. I didn’t win, which is something that I’m definitely looking forward to doing this year.”
Recari, who started playing at age 11, earned her lone US tour title at the 2010 CVS LPGA Challenge.
She competed four years on the European Tour from 2006-09, winning the Finnair Masters.
Webb had a solid back nine Friday with three birdies as she shoots for her 39th LPGA Tour victory.
“I hit it pretty similar to yesterday, probably just didn’t make as many putts today as I did yesterday,” said Webb, of Ayr, Queensland.
“I think the pins are a little bit trickier. So I had a good last nine holes, I turned in one over but I felt like I was still playing pretty good.”
First-round leader Jane Park, of the United States, posted an even-par 72 and dropped into a tie for fourth at six-under-par 138.
She is level with American Cristie Kerr (68) and a trio of South Koreans — 2010 runner-up Park In-bee (69), Kim In-kyung (67) and Kang Haeji (69).