PHOENIX, Arizona, March 16, 2012 (AFP) - World number one Yani Tseng fired a two-under par 70 on Friday to grab a one-shot lead over five players, as the second round of the LPGA Founders Cup produced a log-jammed leaderboard.
A day after she played one stretch of seven holes in seven-under, Tseng delivered a more sedate round of three birdies and one bogey on the Wildfire Golf Club course.
After teeing off on 10 she parred her way through the back nine -- the same stretch where she caught fire on Thursday -- making her first birdie of the day at the par-four first.
"I was like, 'Oh, yesterday I make birdie here. How could I make par.' And it was not even close," Tseng said. "A couple holes, I was trying to make safe par, but yesterday it was so easy."
After her only bogey of the day at the par-three sixth, the Taiwanese star birdied seven and eight.
"I played really well today I made lots of good shots, good drives, but I just didn't make enough putts," Tseng said. "But had a good stroke. Some of it was really hard to read, but it's good I make good stroke instead of bad stroke. So I enjoy out there. It's good to play in the morning. It's not too hot."
South Korea's world number two Na Yeon Choi carded a 69 to head the group on 136.
She was joined by South Korea's I.K. Kim, who climbed up the leaderboard with a 66 and compatriot Meena Lee who carded a 67. Japan's Mika Miyazato posted a 67 and compatriot Ai Miyazato a 68 to complete the group sharing second.
"I'm very satisfied what I did today," Choi said. "The weather is good like yesterday, but I heard tomorrow and Sunday the weather will be a little cold and windy, so I have to prepare for that. I think I'm in good position right now, but I have two more rounds."
Ai Miyazato was also happy with her morning tee time.
"I played in the afternoon yesterday, so the fairways and greens were pretty firm, but this morning it was really soft," she said. "And I thought I can be more aggressive, but I was a little bit impatient on the front nine, but on the back nine I made some putts, so I'm very happy with that.
Tseng, coming off a mammoth 2011 season that included 12 global titles -- seven of them on the LPGA tour and two of them at major championships -- last month successfully defended her LPGA title in Thailand.
Defending champion Karrie Webb of Australia carded a 69 and was among a group of six players lying two shots off the pace on 137 that also included former world number one Jiyai Shin (71). Another half-dozen players were on 138.
Tseng said she had a lot of work left to do, but she was happy with her game and looking forward to the weekend.
"The next two days are very important, but I will keep the same strategy, be aggressive and try to make more birdies as I can and play smart, and two more days to come," she said.
Leading second-round scores here on Friday in the LPGA Tour Founders Cup (USA unless noted, par-72):
135 - Yani Tseng (TPE) 65-70
136 - I.K. Kim (KOR) 70-66, Meena Lee (KOR) 69-67, Mika Miyazato (JPN) 69-67, Ai Miyazato (JPN) 68-68, Na Yeon Choi (KOR) 67-69
137 - Paula Creamer 69-68, Karin Sjodin (SWE) 69-68, Karrie Webb (AUS) 68-69, Inbee Park (KOR) 68-69, Jiyai Shin (KOR) 66-71, Hee Young Park (KOR) 65-72
138 - Kristy McPherson 73-65, Katherine Hull (AUS) 72-66, Julieta Granada (PAR) 70-68, Pat Hurst 69-69, Stacy Lewis 68-70, Hee Kyung Seo (KOR) 67-71
139 - Se Ri Pak (KOR) 70-69, Hee-Won Han (KOR) 69-70, Jennifer Song 69-70, Belen Mozo (ESP) 68-71, So Yeon Ryu (KOR) 68-71, Mindy Kim 68-71, Katie Futcher 68-71, Christine Song 67-72, Danielle Kang 68-71, Seon Hwa Lee (KOR) 70-69
140 - Anna Nordqvist (SWE) 72-68, Momoko Ueda (JPN) 72-68, Na On Min (KOR) 70-70, Lexi Thompson 69-71, Suzann Pettersen (NOR) 69-71,