Diaz Maintains Lead in Marathon Classic; Wie Misses Cut


Though she wasn't as torrid as in Thursday's first round when she fired a 9-under 62 to take a four-stroke lead, Laura Diaz continued her fine play in the Marathon Classic, a $1.4 million, 72-hole LPGA Tour event at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.

The 39-year-old Diaz, a two-time LPGA winner whose last victory came in the 2002 LPGA Corning Classic in her home state of New York, got off to a slow start Friday with just a bogey through the first 12 holes. But from that point forward she posted four birdies and a bogey to come home with a 2-under 69.

Through 36 holes Diaz stands at 11-under 131, three strokes ahead of New Zealand's Lydia Ko, who's carded two straight 67s, and South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace, who's shot rounds of 66 and 68.

Four back are Canada's Rebecca Lee-Bentham and South Korea's So Yeon Ryu, who each shot 67s. Five behind Diaz are Americans Brittany Lang (66) and Kayla Mortellaro (67).

Pace, an eight-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, is searching for her first victory in the States. She's ready to go on the weekend and try to catch Diaz. "I'm very happy about the position," Pace said.

"I would like to be in contention on the weekend. That's when the fun starts, right? So hopefully I can keep hitting the ball like I am and make a couple of putts on the weekend, and you never know."

Six shots behind the leader are South Korean Candie Kung (67), American Cristie Kerr (67), Sweden's Caroline Hedwall (68), Uruguay's Mariajo Uribe (70) and Australians Katherine Kirk (68) and Lindsey Wright (70).

Sharing 14th at 4-under 138 are South Korean Mirim Lee (67), defending champion Beatriz Recari of Spain (68), Malaysia's Kelly Tan (70) and Americans Marina Alex (69), Brittany Lincicome (69), Brooke Pancake (69) and Mo Martin (71).

Martin, who opened with a promising 67 after making a career breakthrough with a victory in last week's Women's British Open, posted two birdies and a pair of bogeys Friday. "I left a few more birdie putts out there than I did yesterday," said the 31-year-old Californian. "Hit a few edges and maybe misread a few. Still, solid round."

Among those another stroke back are 22-year-old South Carolinian Austin Ernst, who followed up a sparkling 66 in the first round with a 73.

Other scores included a second straight 70 by No. 1-ranked Stacy Lewis, and a 72 by Kraft-Nabisco champion Lexi Thompson, who made the cut of 1-over 143 right on the number.

Among those not qualifying for the weekend is 2014 U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie, who carded rounds of 74 and 76 to miss the cut by seven strokes. The 24-year-old Hawaiian also missed the cut in the Women's British Open at Royal Birkdale by three shots.

Wie didn't qualify for next week's International Crown, a team match at Owings Mills, Md. The four-woman American squad will be represented by Paula Creamer, Lewis, Kerr and Thompson. Wie will be able to get some much-needed rest since she won't be playing until the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan, which starts August 7.

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