Long-hitting Brittany takes over lead

at LPGA Thailand

American Brittany Lang returned a second-round score of 69 (three under par) today) to take a one-shot lead over compatriots Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer in the $1.45 million LPGA Thailand.
The big-hitting Lang used long drives to produce her second consecutive bogey-free round, giving her a two-day total of 7-under 137 at the 6,477 yard Siam Country Club's Pattaya Plantation course.
“It is a great golf course for me,” Lang said. “The greens are firm and I hit the ball high. It is a long course, so I can hit the par 5s or par 4s with wedge shots for my approaches to the green. As long as I can use my wedge and chip, I will have an easy round.”
Lang, ranked No. 37 in the world, is chasing her first LPGA victory after having previously finished second at both the 2008 Sybase Classic and the 2005 U.S. Open as an amateur.
“I feel really good on this course,” Lang added. “My goal this year is to put myself in the position to win every chance I can get.”
Pressel, the youngest major champion at age 18 when she won the 2007 Kraft Nabisco title, made successive birdies to finish with a 68.
“It wasn’t quite as hot as yesterday,” Pressel said. “I guess growing up in Florida helped me to cope with this weather. The greens are firm, so it makes it difficult to get the ball close. So, I will go for the pin as often as I can.”
In her trademark pink outfit, crowd favourite Creamer stumbled to bogeys on the first and third holes but shook off the early rust to finish with a 70.
“After the fifth hole, I felt that I got back to normal,” said Creamer, the world’s No. 3. “I felt more relaxed and made a couple birdies in a row. From there on, I played pretty solidly. I can’t be too upset as to how things went out there today.”
Two shots off the lead in a share for fourth were American Angela Stanford (71) and first-round leader Jin Joo Hong of South Korea (73).
The world’s top-ranked player, Lorena Ochoa, improved after a mediocre opening round, firing a 69 to move three strokes off the lead.
“I hope I could get a few more birdies to get me in the front position,” Ochoa said. “I like where I am. I still have two more days, which will be very important to shoot a lower score.”
Even with Ochoa at 4 under were South Korea’s Eun-Hee Ji (67), Japan’s Mika Miyazato (67), Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson (72) and American Kristy McPherson (72).
SECOND-ROUND SCOREBOARD
Par 144 (2 x 72). 6,466yd.
1. Brittany Lang 68-69--137.
2. Morgan Pressel 70-68--138
2. Paula Creamer 68-70--138
4. Angela Stanford 68-71--139
4. Jin Joo Hong 66-73--139
6. Eun-Hee Ji 73-67--140
6. Mika Miyazato 73-67--140
6. Lorena Ochoa 71-69--140
6. Helen Alfredsson 68-72--140
6. Kristy McPherson 68-72--140
11. Laura Diaz 73-68--141
11. Minea Blomqvist 73-68--141
11. Teresa Lu 72-69--141
11. Ai Miyazato 71-70--141
11. Yani Tseng 70-71--141
16. Candie Kung 73-69--142
16. Karrie Webb 71-71--142
16. Natalie Gulbis 71-71--142
19. Hee Young Park 79-64--143
19. Seon Hwa Lee 72-71--143
19. Jane Park 72-71--143
19. Karen Stupples (Eng) 72-71--143
19. Hee-Won Han 70-73--143
19. Nicole Castrale 69-74--143
19. Sophie Gustafson 70-73--143
26. Jiyai Shin 75-69--144
26. Sun Young Yoo 74-70--144
26. Cristie Kerr 74-70--144
29. Stacy Prammanasudh 75-70--145
29. a-Moriya Jutanugarn 73-72--145
29. Jee Young Lee 73-72--145
29. Na Yeon Choi 73-72--145
29. Young Kim 71-74--145
29. Mi Hyun Kim 71-74--145
35. Shanshan Feng 76-70--146
35. Louise Friberg 75-71--146
35. Meena Lee74-72--146
35. Giulia Sergas 74-72--146
35. Christina Kim 72-74--146
35. Leta Lindley 71-75--146
35. Juli Inkster 71-75--146
42. Shiho Oyama 75-72--147
42. In-Kyung Kim 71-76--147
44. Lindsey Wright 74-74--148
44. Ji Young Oh 74-74--148
44. Allison Fouch 73-75--148
44. Inbee Park 73-75--148
48. Russy Gulyanamitta 77-72--149
48. Angela Park 76-73--149
48. Melissa Reid (Eng) 74-75--149
48. Ashleigh Simon 73-76--149
52. Jimin Kang 79-71--150
52. Suzann Pettersen 77-73--150
52. Katherine Hull 73-77--150
52. Se Ri Pak 73-77--150
56. Maria Verchenova 76-75--151
56. Laura Davies (Eng) 76-75--151
56. Song-Hee Kim 76-75--151
59. Carin Koch 76-77--153
59. Thidapa Suwannapura (amateur) 74-79--153