Home win on cards in LPGA South Korea event

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
INCHEON, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's Song-Hee Kim birdied four holes in a row on the front nine Saturday and finished with her second straight 4-under 68 for a one-stroke lead over defending champion Na Yeon Choi in the LPGA Hana Bank Championship today.
Winless in 73 LPGA Tour starts, Kim finished second in the LPGA Championship in late June, then lost a play-off to Choi the following week in the Jamie Farr Classic.

"I played really well in the early part of the round, but I struggled with my shots in the last part of the round," Kim said. "I managed to overcome the adversity with my putting. I think I can play well tomorrow if I play the way I played today."

Choi also shot a 68 on Sky 72 Golf Club's Ocean Course.

"I have confidence right now, and I have a good feeling about my game," Choi said. "I felt that I lost focus on the last couple holes, so I'm going to go to the range and hit some balls and get more focus and confidence."

Vicky Hurst was third at 6 under after a 70.

Juli Inkster, the 50-year-old Hall of Famer who bogeyed the final hole last week in Malaysia to finish a stroke behind winner Jimin Kang, was three strokes back at 5 under after a 68. Inkster is trying to become the oldest LPGA Tour winner.

"I think I'm over last week," Inkster said. "I've played so long out here, I just kind of let it go. What it did tell me is I'm playing well, and I can compete out here."

Second-ranked South Korean star Jiyai Shin was 3 under after a 68, and No. 1 Cristie Kerr was another stroke back after her second straight 71.

Michelle Wie shot a 73, leaving her 1 under.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
136 Song-Hee Kim 68 68
137 Na Yeon Choi 69 68
138 Vicky Hurst (USA) 68 70
139 Juli Inkster (USA) 71 68
140 So Yeon Ryu 70 70, Mika Miyazato (Jpn) 70 70, Hee-Won Han 71 69, Inbee Park 73 67, Suzann Pettersen (Nor) 71 69, Amanda Blumenherst (USA) 70 70
141 Jiyai Shin 73 68, Jeong Jang 73 68
142 Sun Young Yoo 72 70, Cristie Kerr (USA) 71 71, Kristy McPherson (USA) 73 69, Jee young Lee 70 72, Bo bae Kim 73 69, Hye Young Kim 72 70, In-Kyung Kim 72 70, Amy Hung (Tai) 69 73, Stacy Lewis (USA) 71 71
143 Karen Stupples (Eng) 71 72, Meena Lee 71 72, Catriona Matthew (Sco) 72 71, Jung-min Lee 75 68, Maria Hjorth (Swe) 71 72, Paula Creamer (USA) 72 71, Michelle Wie (USA) 70 73, Katherine Hull (Aus) 70 73
144 Seon Hwa Lee 74 70, Anna Nordqvist (Swe) 72 72, Brittany Lincicome (USA) 71 73, Wendy Ward (USA) 74 70, Sophie Gustafson (Swe) 73 71
145 Azahara Munoz (Spa) 73 72, Jimin Kang 70 75, Alena Sharp (Can) 72 73, Pat Hurst (USA) 75 70, Karine Icher (Fra) 70 75
146 Morgan Pressel (USA) 72 74, Eun Hee Ji 73 73, Bo Kyung Kim 74 72, Kyeong Bae 74 72, Soo-jin Yang 74 72, Gwladys Nocera (Fra) 72 74
147 Stacy Prammanasudh (USA) 72 75, Shi Hyun Ahn 76 71, M.J. Hur 74 73
148 Jennifer Song (USA) 77 71, Jeong Eun Lee 75 73, Yoon-ji Cho 72 76, Haeji Kang 74 74, Brittany Lang (USA) 77 71
149 Teresa Lu (Tai) 74 75, Momoko Ueda (Jpn) 77 72, Heather Bowie Young (USA) 71 78, Ju Young Park 78 71, Meaghan Francella (USA) 75 74, Christina Kim (USA) 74 75
150 Bo-Mee Lee 77 73, Shin-ae Ahn 76 74, Ran Hong 79 71, Natalie Gulbis (USA) 74 76, Hee Kyung Seo 75 75, Amy Yang 73 77
151 Mirim Lee 76 75, Hee kyung Bae 80 71, Hyun Hee Moon 78 73
153 Katie Futcher (USA) 74 79, Hee Young Park 76 77
154 Jin Joo Hong 77 77
157 Lindsey Wright (Aus) 81 76
158 Anna Rawson (Aus) 82 76
WD: 72 Na On Min