Recari in Driver's Seat at Kia Classic


Beatriz Recari of Spain carded a 5-under 67 Friday to take a one-shot lead through 36 holes of the Kia Classic. The LPGA Tour event started Thursday at 6,593-yard Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, Calif.

Following her three-birdie 69 Thursday, Recari continued her spotless play with five birdies - over a seven-hole stretch between her front and back nines - to get to 8-under 136, one stroke ahead of Paula Creamer (69, 68) and Karrie Webb, who's in search of her first win since the 2011 Founders Cup. The Aussie, a member of golf's hall of fame, has posted rounds of 67 and 70.

Recari feels she's in a good place heading into the weekend of the 72-hole tournament. "I had great momentum from yesterday,'' she told reporters. "I played really well. I felt like I left some putts out there. It was kind of shaky putting on the greens yesterday, so today I started with a good opportunity."

Tied for fourth at 138 are three South Koreans - I.K. Kim (67), Inbee Park (69) and Haeji Kang (69) - and Americans Cristie Kerr (68) and Jane Park.

Park, the first-round leader, followed up her opening 66 with a 72. At 139 are Lizette Salas (70) and Sweden's Caroline Hedwall (72).

Newly-crowned No. 1 Stacy Lewis (two straight 70s) is another stroke back at 4-under 140 in T-11 with Mo Martin (71), Jeong Jang (68) and So Yeon Ryu (70).

The weekend cut was set at plus-3 147. Not qualifying for the final two rounds are Michelle Wie, who posted two straight 74s, Morgan Pressel (77 and 72), and five-time LPGA winner Brittany Lincicome (76 and 78).

For complete scoring, visit http://www.lpgascoring.com/public/Leaderboard.