Pressel Ties Course Record, Moves into First with Lee


Morgan Presell fired a course-record-tying 8-under 64 Friday to rise into a share of the halfway lead at the Kia Classic with first-round Mirim Lee, who followed up her opening 65 with a 69 at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif.

The 26-year-old Pressel had one of the finest rounds of her career, recording four birdies on each her front and back nines to tie the all-time tournament mark set by Dori Carter last year to reach 10-under 134.

"It was kind of stress-free golf out there today. It was nice," said Pressel, who's looking for her first title since 2008. "I had a lot of opportunities, and still, even with eight birdies, opportunities that I left out there, I missed or lipped out. But I just played really, really solidly. I'm happy with the result."

After seven birdies Thursday, Lee, a 24-year-old from South Korea, had six more Friday along with three bogeys to match Pressel.

Americans Alison Lee (66) and Cristie Kerr (68) share third at 135, while another stroke back are Spaniard Maria Hernandez (66), Japan's Sakura Yokomine (67), South Korean Hyo Joo Kim (68) and American Brittany Lang (68).

No. 3-ranked Stacy Lee followed up her opening 68 with a 69 to drop into a tie for ninth at 137 with Alison Walshe (67) and No. 1 Lydia Ko (70).

Lewis, a three-time winner in 2014, hopes to continue taking advantage of her chances through the weekend. "The ball-striking wasn't exactly where I wanted it, so to shoot 3-under on this golf course is pretty good," she said. "It was nice getting out early, getting the better greens."

Ko's under-par round was her 26th straight in competition; the 17-year-old New Zealander is just three shy of tying Annika Sorenstam's all-time mark of 29 set in 2004.

"I didn't know that the record was 29 until I saw it on Twitter," Ko said. "But to have a record that's already set by a legendary player like Annika, it's pretty awesome that I'm like only three rounds away. But like I said, I'm going to try and take one round at a time. This is a tough course."

Eight players - Lee-Anne Pace, Katie Burnett, Mo Martin, Jennifer Song, Moriya Jutanugarn, Jane Rah, Paula Creamer and Inbee Park - are deadlocked in 12th at 138.

Defending champion Anna Nordqvist followed up her opening 72 with a 69 and is tied for 36th at 141.

For all the scores, visit http://www.lpga.com/leaderboard.