INCHEON, 17, Oct 2014 (AFP) - Icher had five birdies against one bogey to move to five-under for the US$2.0 million tournament on the par-72, 6,364-yard Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf and Resort club in Incheon.
Icher started the day at one-under in a tie for 15th and promptly moved to two-under with a birdie on the opening hole. She also finished strongly, with three birdies over her final four holes.
Icher said she faced "a completely different course" on Friday with the wind constantly changing direction, and credited her work with coach Brian Mogg for helping her with the gusty conditions.
"This week, my coach was here and we practised a lot of low shots," she said. "It seemed to pay off. Here, it's always windy. I've never played in Korea without wind. Low shots are pretty strong in my game now.
"There are four or five tournaments left for us, and I'd love to win one. There's nothing else I am looking for," Icher added.
Beatriz Recari of Spain and American Brittany Lincicome both ended one stroke behind Icher, after shooting their second straight rounds of 70 on Friday.
They are ahead of half-dozen golfers at three-under for the tournament, including the 2012 champ Suzann Pettersen.
Park In-Bee, world number two who can rise to the top spot with a win in Incheon, managed only a 73 Friday with two birdies and three bogeys, which dropped her to even for the tournament and a tie for 24th.
Lydia Ko, the third-ranked golfer who can also claim the top spot with a win, shot a three-under 69 Friday to move to two-under.
Kang Hae-Ji of South Korea, who led after the first round with a 67, managed only a 75 Friday to fall to two-under.
Defending champion Amy Yang had a disastrous round of 79, with eight bogeys against a single birdie.
There are no cuts to this 72-hole tournament, the only LPGA stop in South Korea.
Leading scores on Friday from the second round of the LPGA KEB-HanaBank Championship:
139 - Karine Icher (FRA) 71-68
140 - Beatriz Recari (ESP) 70-70, Brittany Lincicome (USA) 70-70
141 - Azahara Munoz (ESP), 72-69, Hur Mi-Jung (KOR) 72-69, Lee Jung-Min (KOR) 71-70, Sandra Gal (GER) 70-71, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 70-71, Lee Il-Hee (KOR) 69-72
142 - Yoon Seul-A (KOR) 73-69, Lydia Ko (NZL) 73-69, Heo Yoon-Kyung (KOR) 72-70, Kang Hae-Ji (KOR) 67-75
143 - Chun In-Gee (KOR) 76-67, Baek Kyu-Jung (KOR) 74-69, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 73-70, Gerina Piller (USA) 73-70, Morgan Pressel (USA) 73-70, Julieta Granada (PAR) 71-72, Bae Hee-Kyung (KOR) 70-73, Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) 70-73, Lee Mi-Rim (KOR) 69-74, Catriona Matthew (SCO) 69-74