Lee in front after strong finish

EVIANLESBAINS, France — Taking advantage of an earlier start time to get ahead of bad weather, Mi Hyang Lee surged to a 4under 67 on Friday to take a oneshot lead into the weekend at the Evian Championship.

The 37thranked Lee was at even through 15 holes on the day before a birdiebirdieeagle finish in the best of still conditions. Her clubhouse target of 10under 132 only got tougher as threatened lightning strikes forced a delay and the heat was swept away by gusting winds.

Topranked Sung Hyun Park, also playing early, plus seventime major winner Inbee Park and Hyo Joo Kim, thriving after a suspension that lasted 1 hour, 5 minutes, were one shot back.

Lee cited good fortune in leading the newest women’s major at the midway point.

“I think I missed a lot of the green today, but was trying to think simple,” said Lee, a twotime winner on the LPGA Tour. “I had a little luck also.”

Sung Hyun Park shot a bogeyfree 5under 66 but wasted a chance to lead. She threeputted the 18th for the second straight day.

“I knew I had to score low for the first and second rounds, so I was a little aggressive,” Park said through a translator, noting a forecast calling for rain through the weekend.

The lateafternoon delay disrupted firstround leader Paula Creamer, who was 9 under after making birdie on the 12th. Shortly thereafter, storm clouds moved on Evian Resort Golf Club.

Creamer returned on the 13th green and missed a 6foot putt for her first bogey of the tournament. She dropped shots on Nos. 14 and 15 as the wind whipped up, then made a triplebogey 6 after finding water at the par3 16th.

Another bogey at No. 17 left Creamer seven shots worse off since the stoppage — giving back all she gained in a 64 during Thursday’s heat wave. Her 76 left her tied for 25th at 2 under.

“Unfortunately, this time it got me,” the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open champion said of the weather delay. “I was playing great, really consistent.”