Stanford in Solo First at Lorena Ochoa Invitational


Angela Stanford followed up her opening 6-under 66 with a 67 Friday to forge a two-stroke edge in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. The $1 million, 72-hole tournament hosted by the retired LPGA Tour star began Thursday at Guadalajara Country Club in Ochoa's home country of Mexico.

Stanford, a 34-year-old Texan with five career wins - with her most recent coming in February at the HSBC Women's Champions - carded six birdies and a bogey Friday to reach 11-under 133, two shots ahead of Inbee Park (68). Stanford began the second round sharing the lead with Candie Kung and fellow American Michelle Wie.

Cristie Kerr posted a 69 and is at 136, while another stroke back are South Koreans Kung (71) and So Yeon Ryu (70) and American Stacy Lewis (70).

Lewis, a four-time winner this year, came into the tournament with a 58-point lead over Park in the LPGA Tour's season-long points' race for player of the year honors. Lewis is trying to become the first American to win the award since Beth Daniel in 1994.

Sharing seventh at 138 are France's Karine Icher (71) and South Korean I.K. Kim (70, with Hee Kyung Seo (69) of South Korea and Aussie Katherine Hull (71) tied for ninth at 139.

Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (71) has solo 11th at 140, and another stroke back are Japan's Ai Miyazato (68), Taiwan's Yani Tseng (71) and Americans Wie (75) and Vicky Hurst (70).

After carding six birdies and 12 pars Thursday, Wie had an off-day in the second round with three birdies, four bogeys and a double on the par-4 first hole. The 23-year-old's first LPGA victory came in the 2009 Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

Germany's Sandra Gal (69), Spain's Beatriz Recari (73) and Korean Haeji Kang (68) are tied for 16th at 142.

Defending champion Catriona Matthew of Scotland has posted rounds of 71 and 72 and is tied for 19th at 143 through 36 holes with Natalie Gulbis (72) and tournament hostess, Lorena Ochoa (72).

Ochoa, who logged 27 LPGA titles before retiring at age 28 in 2010, didn't play in her namesake tournament last year as it came a month before the birth of her son, Pedro, in December.

There's no cut line in the limited-field event, which is restricted to 36 players.

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