Pressel Maintains Lead at ShopRite Classic


Morgan Pressel followed up her opening-round 5-under 66 with a 69 to stay atop the leaderboard at the ShopRite Classic. The event, one of the few remaining 54-hole tournaments on the LPGA Tour calendar, started Friday on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Resort in Galloway Township, N.J.

Pressel, a 27-year-old Floridian in search of her first victory since the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic, carded three birdies and a bogey to reach 7-under 139, a stroke clear of Sweden's Anna Nordqvist, who also shot 69.

Trailing Pressel by three are Americans Kelly Shon (68) and Gerina Piller, Scotland's Catriona Matthew, Sweden's Pernilla Lindberg and the Netherlands' Christel Boeljon, who all shot 70s.

Shon's 68 matched the low round of the day. Shon later told reporters she's trying to not be so mechanical. "I actually got a great tip when I was down in Kingsmill.

"I was starting to get bogged down with techniques, and someone just told me, go out there and play golf, and then I reflected back on my rounds when I had played with buddies back home just for matches and I had fun, so that's kind of what I thought about."

Four back are Americans Marissa Steen and Kim Kaufman, and South Korean Sun Young Yoo, who all carded 70s.

Defending champion Stacy Lewis followed up her opening 72 with a 73 and is tied for 56th at 3-over 145.

No. 1 Lydia Ko is taking the week off. The top-ranked player in the field, No. 2-ranked Inbee Park, carded a 70 and enters Sunday at 141.

There is no cut in the event.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/shoprite-lpga-classic-presented-by-acer/leaderboard.