Brazil's Angela Park, helped by a 30-foot eagle putt, forged one stroke clear in the US Women's Open second round yesterday.
Six off the pace at the start of a weather-hit day at Interlachen Country Club, the 19-year-old fired a six-under-par 67 to vault to the top ofthe leaderboard with a six-under total of 140. Park putted superbly on the difficult, sloping greens.
"Every putt I hit out there was a flawless stroke," the Brazilian told reporters after setting the pace in the third women's major of the season with five birdies and a lone bogey.
"I was really calm and really having a lot of fun. That was the key, I think."
Finland's Minea Blomqvist birdied her final hole, the par-four ninth, for a 69 to lie one shot back at five under with South Korea's Park Inbee (69) and veteran Swede Helen Alfressson (71).
Defending champion Cristie Kerr (70) was at four under, along with fellow American Paula Creamer (72), Korean Jang Jeong (69) and Candie Kung of Taiwan (70). Three-times champion Annika Sorenstam carded a 70 to sit five strokes off the pace, two ahead of world number one Lorena Ochoa who battled to a 74.
Thirty-six players were still out on the course when the round was suspended in fading light, after an afternoon delay of nearly two-and-a-half hours due to the threat of lightning.
Park, seeking her maiden LPGA Tour title, birdied three of her first six holes on a cool, overcast morning to reach the turn in three-under 34.
After finding the first cut of rough to the left off the tee at the par-five second, her 11th hole, she struck a five-wood to 30 feet above the cup and coolly sank the left-to-right breaking putt to get to five under overall.
The 2007 LPGA rookie of the year picked up further shots at the fourth and fifth before collecting her only bogey of the day at the par-four sixth.
