Nasa charges ahead as Malaysia’s Kelly shoots a 69

GALLOWAY: Nasa Hataoka birdied two of the last three holes for a four-under 67 and a one-stroke lead in the Shoprite LPGA Classic.

Hataoka. the 21-year-old Japanese player with three LPGA Tour victories, birdied the par-four 16th and par-five 18th to get to 11-under 131 at Seaview’s Bay Course. She hit her approach to four feet on 17, and chipped to three feet on 18.

“I wasn’t striking the ball as well as yesterday, but I was able to convert my birdie chances where I wanted to and that was good,” Hataoka said. “Today wasn’t about making long putts. It was more like converting the small chances I had.”

Lee Mi-hyang Lee, tied for the first-round lead with Lauren Stephenson after a 63, was a stroke back with Mel Reid after a 69. Reid shot a 64.

“Still have two days left,” Lee said. “Try do my best. I don’t want to think any golf score, just I want to do my golf. That’s my goal.”

Celine Boutier (65) and Amy Olson ( 66) were nine- under. Georgia Hall, the Cambia Portland Classic winner two weeks ago, had her second straight 67 to join Jennifer Song (69), Jennifer Kupcho (65) and Christina Kim (65) at eight-under.

Defending champion Lexi Thompson, winless since the June event last year, was three-under after a 72. Thompson played alongside two-time tournament champions Stacy Lewis and Anna Nordqvist. Lewis was two-under after her second straight 70, and Nordqvist was another shot back after a 69.

Malaysia’s Kelly Tan shot a 69 on Friday for a two-round total 137 to tied for 17th place with 12 others including Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez.