Pederson uses fast start for 2-shot lead on LPGA Tour

Emily Kristine Pederson had six birdies in her opening 10 holes and held on for a 5-under 65 on Friday, giving her a two-shot lead in The Annika and moving the Danish player two rounds closer to earning a spot in the LPGA Tour season finale.

Pederson dropped three shots over her final seven holes at Pelican Golf Club as the wind picked up late in the morning. Part of her wishes her 65 could have been lower.

“It got a little bit more windy out there and my back nine was not as I hoped,” Pederson said. “I hit a few uncommitted golf shots that I’m a little bit mad at myself about. That happens. Hopefully, I can commit a bit more tomorrow and keep it going o the whole round.”

Minami Katsu of Japan had a 67 and was two shots behind, followed by Jasmine Suwannapura of Thailand, who had a 65 and was four behind.

Pederson, who was on Europe’s successful Solheim Cup team in Spain, was at 12-under 128, the lowest 36hole score in the four years the event has been played. She is No. 80 in the Race to CME Globe, knowing only the top 60 advance next week to the CME Group Tour Championship down the Florida coast in Naples.

“Obviously, I know where I am at the CME,” Pederson said. “I know I want to play next week as well. But at the end of the day I also know — and I’ve made this mistake so many times in the past — you can’t do anything about it. So I’m just trying to focus on putting together a good day, a good hole, good shot every day.

“So many times I’ve looked ahead and it’s not gone well,” she said. “So I’m trying to do something different.”

Katsu is No. 78, and she also is in good position to advance.

Noren sinks early and late birdies for 67 in Bermuda

Alex Noren started with three birdies and then he wondered if he would make another. He picked up two more late in the second round and posted a 5-under 66 for a two-shot lead going into the weekend at the Butterfield Bermuda Championship.

Noren finally got a putt to fall on the par-4 15th, added a birdie on the par-5 17th and wound up setting the tournament tournament record at 15-under 127.

He had a two-shot lead over Ryan Moore (64), and Satoshi Kodaira and Ryan Brehm, who each shot a 65, as the wind at Port Royal began to at least cause some doubt.

Noren felt he played about the same as he did on Thursday when he opened with a 61, with one big exception.

“The wedges came up 15 feet instead of 5, and had a bunch of tap-ins yesterday,” he said. “The greens ... it’s quite a lot of slope and quite a lot of grain. The first three birdies I just kind of rolled in, and then it was a little trickier.”

Moore played bogeyfree, one day after he felt he could barely keep the ball on the golf course and was saved by his putting. That gave him a jolt of confidence that he didn’t have to hit it great to score well, and it carried over to the second round.