Miyazato, Munoz share lead at LPGA tourney; Wie, Kono miss cut
The wind at Ko Olina only bothered the LPGA Tour players if they let it.
Spain’s Azahara Munoz and Japan’s Ai Miyazato were not among them as they shared the lead after today’s second round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship at 8-under 136.
Munoz had the low round of the day in the blustery conditions with an 8-under 64 to take the early clubhouse lead after shooting a 72 on Wednesday. Miyazato joined her 30 minutes later with a 7-under 65 that fit nicley with her opening-round 71.
Both golfers are two shots clear of American Cristie Kerr (68—138) and South Korea’s Jimin Kang, who had the low roiund of the afternoon at 6-under 66. She shot a 72 on Wednesday.
The only local golfer to make the cut was Ayaka Kaneko. She shot an even-par 72 to finish at 2-over 146 through 36 holes. It is the third time in four events in 2012 that she played through to the weekend.
The Sacred Hearts graduate began her round at No. 10 and scuffled through a six-hole stretch of four bogyes and two birdies, starting at No. 13. She recovered with three birdies on the back nine before closing with a bogey.
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Fellow local golfers Michelle Wie and Stephanie Kono will not make the cut that’s projected at 3-over 147. Wie shot a woeful 4-over 76 to finish at 10-over 154. Kono countered with 78 to finish at 13-over 157.
Meena Lee, who won here at the 2006 Fields Open, is tied for fifth after shooting a 7-under 65. World No. 1 Yani Tseng went out early with the leaders, but managed only an even-par 72 to sit at 3-under 141, five shots off the pace.
Miyazato is looking for her first win since the 2011 Evian Masters and Munoz, who was rookie of the year in 2010, is just “trying to have fun out there.” The Spaniard played her collegiate golf at USC and has yet to win.