ORLANDO, November 18, 2011 (AFP) - South Korea's Na Yeon Choi fired a one-under par 71 on Friday to keep a one-stroke lead after the second round of the season-ending $1.5 million LPGA Titleholders tournament.
Choi, winner of the LPGA Malaysia last month, opened with a 66 on Thursday and stood on seven-under 137 after 36 holes, one stroke in front of Germany's Sandra Gal, who fired her second consecutive 69.
South Korean Hee Young Park and American Paula Creamer shared third on 140 with American Wendy Ward next on 141 and World No. 2 Suzann Pettersen of Norway in sixth on 142 after a windy day at Grand Cypress Resort.
Choi says she does not find being in the lead a secure feeling.
"To be honest it's not comfortable," she said. "I know I played well the last two days, but still I have to play two more days. I'll never change my goal or my strategy so I'll just keep doing what I did the last two days.
"I hope I just get good results on Sunday," she said.
Choi opened with a double bogey, needing four putts from 10 feet, but regained a stroke with a crucial birdie at the par-3 fourth hole.
"I had a very up-and-down day," Choi said. "I started double bogey. I think my putting speed wasn't very quick, so I got a four-putt there. I was very disappointed, but I tried to forget that one, and then I finished strong.
"Then I got a birdie on the fourth hole and then I got some momentum from there. So I finished the round and I never gave up."
She answered a bogey at the par-5 sixth with a birdie on the next hole and then added back-to-back birdies to close the front nine and start the back nine.
For the second day in a row, Choi closed with a birdie at the par-3 17th and a bogey at the par-4 18th. She blamed the wind for much of her struggle.
"The wind did a lot of switching, so when I choose the club I have to trust that club and just swing hard," Choi said. "It was a very tough day.
"I think I controlled my emotions good today. I was calm."
Gal went four-under on the back nine to charge into contention, answering a bogey at the sixth with birdies at 10 and 17 from 10 feet, at 14 from six feet and at the 16th from 40 feet.
Winds kept the pressure on Gal as well, she explained.
"You just kind of have to think your way around a little more," Gal said. "There are a lot of pins that are tucked on different tiers and with the wind you've just got to know where you want to miss it.
"You can be on the green but you can have no putt or a very difficult one. Hitting it to the right spots and thinking your way around the golf course smartly, that's the key."
While Gal was happy to be on the heels of Choi for the lead, she was not impressed by the achievement.
"I like seeing myself up there, but it obviously doesn't mean anything," Gal said. "There's a lot of golf to be played."
World number one Yani Tseng, whose 11 global titles this season include seven LPGA crowns, fired a 75 to share 21st on 146. Among those level with her was US teen star Lexi Thompson.
American Morgan Pressel, who opened with a 67, stumbled to a 78 in search of her first LPGA victory since Kapalua in 2008. She suffered three double bogeys, one of them on the final hole.
Leading scores on Thursday after the second round of the $1.5 million LPGA Titleholders tournament (USA unless noted):
137 - Na Yeon Choi (KOR) 66-71
138 - Sandra Gal (GER) 69-69
140 - Hee Young Park (KOR) 71-69, Paula Creamer 69-71
141 - Wendy Ward 70-71
142 - Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 73-69
143 - Mina Harigae 72-71, Jimin Kang (KOR) 72-71, I.K. Kim (KOR) 72-71
144 - Belen Mozo (ESP) 73-71, Jenny Shin (KOR) 72-72, Michelle Wie 71-73, Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 69-75, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 69-75, Cristie Kerr 68-76
145 - Ai Miyazato (JPN) 71-74, Brittany Lincicome 70-75, Candie Kung (TPE) 69-76, Dewi Claire Schreefel (NED) 69-76, Morgan Pressel 67-78
146 - Se Ri Pak (KOR) 72-74, Caroline Hedwall (SWE) 72-74, Mika Miyazato (JPN) 71-75, Yani Tseng (TPE) 70-76, Angela Stanford 71-75, Karen Stupples (GBR) 71-75, Lexi Thompson 71-75, Maria Hjorth (SWE) 68-78
147 - Sophie Gustafson (SWE) 73-74, Hee-Won Han (KOR) 72-75, Amy Yang (KOR) 72-75, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 70-77, Christel Boeljon (NED) 76-71, Julieta Granada (PAR) 78-69, Katie Futcher 73-74, Karrie Webb (AUS) 67-80
...
148 - Hee Kyung Seo (KOR) 73-75
149 - Mi Hyun Kim (KOR) 69-80
150 - Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 74-76, Chella Choi (KOR) 73-77, Meena Lee (KOR) 72-78
151 - Catriona Matthew (GBR) 76-75
152 - Amy Hung (TPE) 70-82, Song-Hee Kim (KOR) 81-71
154 - Giulia Sergas (ITA) 75-79
157 - Sun Young Yoo (KOR) 80-77