Lee & Masson Share Lead in North Texas LPGA Shootout


South Korea's Meena Lee and Germany's Caroline Masson are now setting the pace in the North Texas LPGA Shootout. The $1.3 million, 72-hole event began Thursday at Las Colinas Country Club in Irving, Texas.

After starting with a 70, the 32-year-old Lee fired a 8-under 64 to reach 8-under 134, the same total as Masson, who's posted two straight 67s.

Masson had a second straight day with five birdies and a bogey, while Lee's card was a bit more colorful. The two-time LPGA winner posted eight birdies, an eagle on the par-5 10th hole and three bogeys Friday.

Lee sounded relieved when her round was over. "I'm happy," said Lee, who hasn't won since the 2006 Fields Open in Hawaii. "I'm happy to be done with the second round. I'm really happy. There's two more days, so yeah, I will do my best."

Masson, who has one victory on the Ladies European Tour but is still winless on the LPGA circuit, is pleased where she is heading into the weekend. "I just feel comfortable with my game," she told reporters. "It feels like, I don't know, I'm hitting it solid. I don't really miss hit many shots, so that makes me feel pretty confident out there. I'm just trying to enjoy it, have fun, not try to have any pressure get to me. You know, just having a good time."

One stroke behind the leaders are Stacy Lewis - who matched Lee for the day's low round with a 64 - and Natalie Gulbis (65).

Lewis, the No. 3-ranked player in the world, enjoyed a flawless outing with seven birdies. Lewis said the difference between Friday and Thursday - when she posted an even-par 71 - was her work on the short grass.

"I didn't really do anything really crazy different from yesterday other than I putted a lot better, but just played really solid," said Lewis, who finished second behind winner Lydia Ko in last week's Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. Ko isn't playing this week.

"Still had a couple funky bounces out there and was able to kind of get out of the holes when I did," added Lewis. "I don't know, just it was easy, it was solid. I felt nice and relaxed out there, so it was a nice day."

Gulbis had eight birdies and a pair of bogeys Friday for one of her best competitive days in recent memory. "It was a good round, definitely a good round, in the wind here," said Gulbis, whose only victory came in the 2007 Evian Masters.

"I haven't played a lot this year, and I haven't played very well in the events I've played in, so it felt really good to get a good round in the 60s and to get around making some birdies. It felt more like how I played at the end of last year, which I hadn't seen yet this year."

Alone in fifth at 6-under 136 is Christina Kim, who's shot rounds of 67 and 69, while tied for sixth at 137 are The Netherlands' Dewi Claire Schreefel (66), Paraguay's Julieta Granada (66), Americans Dori Carter and Cristie Kerr - who each shot 70s, and first-round leader, Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who followed up her opening 66 with a 71.

Defending champion Inbee Park has posted rounds of 71 and 68, and is five behind Lee and Masson. Michelle Wie, who opened with a 67, recorded a 73 and is six back.

The cut was set at 1-over 143.

For updated scoring, visit www.lpga.com.