SHIMA, November 5, 2011 (AFP) - Japan's Momoko Ueda shot a bogey-free eight birdies for a 64 to take a three-stroke lead after the second round of the USLPGA Tour Mizuno Classic golf tournament on Saturday.
Starting the round one stroke off the pace, the 2007 champion birdied the first hole and completed by firing four consecutive birdies from the 15th for a two-round total of 13-under-par 131.
Sakura Yokomine, the top money earner on the Japan tour in 2009, set a new course record of 63 to move up to second place on 134 ahead of fellow Japanese Mayu Hattori, China's Feng Shanshan and American Mina Harigae on 135.
"I was surprised when I hit a chip-in-birdie on the 18th hole, because I didn't practice an approach shot today. I really hadn't expected it to go in," said Ueda, who moved to the US tour after her victory here four years ago.
"My tee shot on the first hole went into a bunker and I had some 140 yard for my third shot. But I was able to concentrate very well and sink a birdie," she said.
"Today is my mother's birthday. She likes a par. When I sank a four-metre par putt on the 12th hole, she jumped in joy. I felt relaxed afterwards. I will concentrate to play my golf tomorrow," she added.
Among the trio of overnight leaders, Taiwan's Teresa Lu was tied in sixth place tie on 136, Japan's Akane Iijima was a stroke further back on 137, and Hwang Ah-Reum of South Korea was on 139.
Defending champion Shin Ji-Yai of South Korea and 2006 champion Karrie Webb of Australia were tied at 26th place on 140.
Leading second-round scores at the $1.2 million USLPGA Tour Mizuno Classic golf tournament on Saturday (Japanese unless stated):
(par 72)
131 - Momoko Ueda 67-64
134 - Sakura Yokomine 71-63
135 - Mayu Hattori 69-66, Mina Harigae (USA) 68-67, Feng Shanshan (CHN) 68-67
136 - Catriona Matthew (SCO) 68-68, Kim In-Kyung (KOR) 68-68, Teresa Lu (TPE) 66-70
137 - Chie Arimura 71-66, Seo Hee-Kyung (KOR) 70-67, Kim Na-Ri (KOR) 69-68, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) 69-68, Akane Iijima 66-71
138 - Asako Fujimoto 69-69, Ryann O'Toole (USA) 69-69, Ayako Uehara 68-70, Azahara Munoz (ESP) 68-70
Selected
139 - Meena Lee (KOR) 72-67, Ye Liying (CHN) 72-67, Esther Lee (KOR) 70-69, Pornanong Phatlum (THA) 69-70, Han Hee-Won (KOR) 69-70, Stacy Lewis (USA) 68-71, Hwang Ah-Reum (KOR) 66-73
140 - Park Hee-Young (KOR) 71-69, Beatriz Recari (ESP) 73-67, Nikki Campbell (USA) 70-70, Mika Miyazato 70-70, Karrie Webb (AUS) 71-69, Vicky Hurst (USA) 69-71, Lim Eun-A (KOR) 69-71, Shin Ji-Yai (KOR) 69-71