Phatlum Maintains Lead in Safeway Classic


Pornanong Phatlum followed up her opening 8-under 64 with a 66 to keep the top spot on the leaderboard through two rounds of the 72-hole Safeway Classic. The $1.3 million LPGA Tour event is taking place at Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Ore.

After carding 10 birdies and two bogeys Thursday, the 23-year-old Thai had a spotless six-birdie second round to reach 14-under 130, one shot ahead of Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who posted a 9-under 63.

Pettersen, the emotional leader of the victorious 2013 European Solheim Cup team two weeks ago, was simply on fire in the second round. The 32-year-old from Oslo carded four birdies on the front nine to make the turn in 4-under 32, then tacked on five more birdies for a 31 on the home half.

Three back was another member of the European Solheim Cup squad, Germany's Caroline Masson, who shot a 64 under ideal conditions, while four behind are Americans Sandra Changkija (66), Cristie Kerr (68) and Lizette Salas (68).

The second round was still in progress as this story went to press. The projected cut was at 2-under 142, though many players had yet to complete their rounds.

One of the players on the verge of missing out on the weekend is defending champion Mika Miyazato of Japan, who won last year when the tournament was held at Pumpkin Ridge's Ghost Creek course west of Portland. Miyazato was at even-par through 16 holes.

For updated scoring, visit www.lpga.com.