Kim Extends Lead in Portland


Following her opening 7-under 65, South Korea's I.K. Kim posted a 67 at Columbia-Edgewater Country Club to stretch her lead to three strokes in the $1.3 million, 72-hole LPGA Tour Portland Classic.

After carding seven birdies Thursday, the 26-year-old Kim posted another seven birdies and her first two bogeys of the tournament to reach 12-under 132, three clear of fellow South Korean Mi Jung Hur - who shot a 65, Spain's Carlota Ciganda (65) and American Laura Diaz (68).

"I'm really pleased how I played the last two days," said Kim, a three-time winner whose last title came at the 2010 Lorena Ochoa Invitational. "There is a lot of scores out there, so I think it will be a good week for all of us."

Four out of the lead are So Yeon Ryu and Xi Yu Lin, who shot 66 and 68, respectively, Mina Harrigae (68) and South Africa's Paula Reto (69).

Ryu won the LPGA's previous event, the Canadian Women's Open in Ontario. The 24-year-old isn't shy about her aspirations. "My goal is actually make another win, and the biggest one is I want to win a major tournament, which is Evian Championship, and my other goal is win the Hana KB Championship, which my sponsor host a tournament and that's the only one LPGA event in Korea," she said.

"So I want to show the really great golf (to) my Korean fans."

Amelia Lewis, who began Friday only a stroke behind Kim, carded a 71 and dropped to ninth at 7-under 137.

Another stroke back are Americans Jaye Marie Green (66), Tiffany Joh (67), Austin Ernst (69) and Juli Inkster (70), South Koreans Ji Young Oh (67) and Chella Choi (70), Norway's Suzann Pettersen (67), Denmark's Line Vedel (69) and Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (71).

Defending champion Pettersen - who also won the event in 2011 - opened with a 71.

The cut was set at 1-over 145.

Not in Portland is No. 1 Stacy Lewis, the runner-up in the Portland event last year. Also missing are No. 3 Inbee Park; No. 4 Lydia Ko; No. 6 Lexi Thompson; No. 7 Cristie Kerr, who won in Portland in 2008; No. 10 Azahara Munoz; and Americans Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis. Michelle Wie, winner of the 2014 U.S. Women's Open, is still out with a finger injury.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.