Patient McDonald ( 68) moves into lead

GREENSBORO— AllyMcDonald waited patiently at the rear of the ninth green, her final hole Friday, while the LPGA rustled up a rules official. Her two playing partners completed play while McDonald awaited anappeal for relief from a sprinkler head. The official nixed the request, soMcDonald calmly coziedherapproachuptothe hole and tapped in for a par.

Just another example of how McDonald is learning patience.

Her willingness towaitand trust the process has served herwell, andFriday’s4- under 68 gave her the 36- hole lead at the LPGA Drive On Championship — Reynolds Lake Oconee at GreatWaters.

McDonald holds a oneshot lead over first- round co- leader Danielle Kang and long- hitting Bianca Pagdanganari and a two- stroke edge over two- time major champion and former No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn. Tied for fifth at 7 under areMel Reid and Pernilla Lindberg.

Kang had a pair of bogeys Friday after a bogey- free first round and shot 70. Her putting improved on the front nine, when the greens began todryout. Pagdanganariaveraged 297 yards off the tee and had six birdies en route to her 67. Jutanugarn shot a 69, despite going bogey- double bogey to start the day.

“To be honest, after the first two holes, I felt like making the cut was going to be good enough for me thisweek,” Jutanugarn said.

Riverdale’s Mariah Stackhouse struggled to shoot 75 onFridayandstandsat1over, tied for 54th.

McDonald, an All- American at Mississippi State, is in a position to win her first LPGA event. Parents Jamie and Angie McDonald made the five- hour drive fromMississippi to watch. They even brought a birthday cake to celebrate Ally’s 28th birthday Sunday. AvictoryintheSouth — on her birthday — would be particularly meaningful.

“Everyweek I’m trying to putmyselfinpositiontowin,” she said. “For the past couple of years, I might have overemphasized winning and let that be a little bit of a barrier and distractor for me. These next 36 holes, I’m going to do my best to put myself in that position and being close to homewould obviously be incredible.”

McDonald’s star has been rising since shewas at Mississippi State, where she won fivetimes. ShewontheMississippiWomen’sAmateurtwice and claimed the prestigious North- SouthWomen’s Amateur in 2013. She turned pro in 2015 and earned full- time status on the LPGA Tour in 2017. She was chosen for the 2019SolheimCupteamwhen Stacy Lewis was injured.

NowMcDonald needs only a victory on her resume. She hascomeclose, finishingthird twice, and knowshowit feels to play with the lead. That happened last at the 2019 ANA Inspiration, where she wound up tied for sixth. But this is where her patience comes into play.

“It’s a calming thing to know I can trust my golf swing,” she said. “Imay not have been in this position as muchas otherpeoplearound me, but I know the more I putmyself in there, themore comfortable I’ll get.”

Carlota Ciganda shot a 7- under 65 for the lowround of the day, with six consecutive birdies on the front nine. Two birdies came on the par 5s, which she reached in two, and included a 20- footer on No. 6. “I’m just playing good, hitting lots of good shots,” she said. “I stopped on the back nine. I would’ve liked a couple more birdies, but 65 is always a great round.”

The cut fell at 2- over 146. Among those who missed were two- time winning Solheim Cup player Austin Ernst, former Big Break GreatWaters participantGerina Piller, and Hall of Famer Juli Inkster.