American Jessica Korda rebounded from an opening double bogey for a share of the second-round lead Saturday in the rain-shortened LPGA event in China.
Korda made seven birdies in a 14-hole stretch, the last three on Nos.14-16, and shot a 5-under 67 to match South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace at 11-under 133 at Jian Lake Blue Bay. Pace had seven birdies and a bogey in a 66.
After rain washed out play Friday and forced tour officials to cut the event from 72 to 54 holes, the start of play Saturday was delayed again.
Korda, the first-round leader Thursday after a 66, won the season-opening event in the Bahamas in January and took the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic in May in Alabama.
Pace, winless on the LPGA Tour, is coming off a playoff victory last week in the Ladies European Tour's South African Women's Open.
South Korea's Chella Choi was 10 under after a 66.
Americans Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang closed with birdies to join China's Shanshan Feng at 9 under. They shot 68.
Wie is making her second start since withdrawing from the Evian Championship in September after a recurring stress reaction in her right hand.
Feng won the LPGA Malaysia two weeks ago for her fourth LPGA Tour title and is seeking her second victory in China after winning the Reignwood LPGA last year in Beijing.
The tournament is the fourth stop on the six-tournament Asian Swing. The LPGA Taiwan Championship is next week, followed by the Mizuno Classic in Japan.
Share
