Defending champion Hee Young Park of South Korea posted a 5-under-par 66 and was tied for the lead with Shanshan Feng of China midway through the Manulife LPGA Classic at Grey Silo Golf Course in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Park, who beat Angela Stanford in a playoff to win the tournament last year, played bogey-free golf for the second straight day after opening with a 65.
“Today the weather was lot better than the first round and I still hit a lot of greens,” said Park, who has won twice on the LPGA Tour among her nine professional victories. “My goal was try to leave myself uphill putts and that worked well. That made me more comfortable today.
“Any win makes me feel special, but I won (here) last year and I keep reminding myself of the good feelings I have had on this golf course, so it even makes me feel even more special.”
Feng, who counts the 2012 LPGA Championship among her three titles on the circuit, birdied three consecutive holes through No. 5 while finishing her 65 on the front nine after an opening 66, and also has not made a bogey in 36 holes.
Michelle Wie, the first-round co-leader with Park, came back with a 67 and was one shot back in third, followed another stroke behind by Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, who had a bogey-free 64, while Xi Yu Lin of China was another shot back in fifth after a second 67.
Inbee Park of South Korea, who lost her No. 1 spot in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings to Stacy Lewis last week, shot 66 and was four strokes behind in a tie for sixth with Belen Mozo of Spain and South Koreans So Yeon Ryu and Na Yeon Choi, who all recorded 67s.
Lewis finished with a second 69 and was seven shots back in a tie for 19th.
