Korda Two Up in China

Jessica Korda has fired rounds of 64 and 68 to take the halfway lead in the inaugural Reignwood LPGA Classic. The $1.8 million event is taking place on the Nicklaus Course at Pine Valley Golf Club in Beijing, China.

After recording nine birdies on the par-73 course Thursday, Korda tacked on seven more - against two bogeys - Friday to reach 14-under 132, two strokes ahead of China's Shanshan Feng, who carded a 64 in the second round, and fellow American Stacy Lewis (66).

"I started a little slow today, but all in all I think it was a great day," said Korda, whose only win came last year in the Women's Australia Open. "I putted really well, just kind of did the same things I was doing the first day. A little different score (than Thursday), but I'm not really disappointed with that."

Korda noted that Beijing's notorious pollution - which was eased in the first round due to China's weeklong National Day holiday that is coming to an end, affected the players. "The smog that's coming in right now, it's making it heavy, and it's harder to breathe out there. You cough a lot."

After opening with a 70, heavy crowd favorite Feng was a bit calmer Friday and it helped her play. "Today I was like, 'I'm going to give it all.' This is the time."

Three behind Korda is her fellow first-round leader, South Korea's Na Yeon Choi, who followed up her 64 with a 71. No. 1-ranked Inbee Park has shot rounds of 69 and 68 and is now at 9-under 137.

"It was much better ball-striking than yesterday," said Park, a three-time major winner this year. "But I think I missed only one green out there today, gave myself a lot of opportunities."

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

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