Tseng leads at weather-hit LPGA Classic

Former world number one Tseng Ya-ni fired an eight-under par 64 on Friday to grab a one-stroke lead in the weather-hit second round of the LPGA Classic.

Taiwan's Tseng notched six birdies and an eagle en route to a 10-under par total of 134, one stroke in front of American Austin Ernst who carded a 65 for 135.

American Lexi Thompson was in the clubhouse on eight-under 136 after posting a 67, with both Paraguay's Julieta Granada and American Sydnee Michaels at eight-under on the course when darkness halted play.

Tseng wasn't affected by the thunderstorm that held up play for more than an hour and a half on Friday evening.

As playing partner Stacy Lewis put it, Tseng looked like the "old Ya-ni" as she piled up birdies on the Senator course.

Currently ranked 75th in the world, Tseng dropped out of the top spot in the rankings in 2013 and hasn't won an LPGA title since 2012.

Tseng has showed signs of returning to form in recent weeks, with three top-22 finishes in her last four starts.

The last time Tseng held the 36-hole lead was at the 2012 Kraft Nabisco Championship, where she finished third.

"Just very happy my game's really coming back," Tseng said. "I'm really happy playing golf on the course and I want to win.

"But it doesn't matter, it will come. It doesn't matter if it's this week or next week or next year, (I) just try to be patient as much as I can and stay positive.”

Ernst's roller-coaster day included eight birdies, three bogeys and an eagle.

She and playing partner Thompson combined for 13 birdies in the round.

"We both had a string of birdies there on the front nine. She was hitting it well," Ernst said. "Definitely when you see putts going in with other people, too, I think it just kind of gives you a little bit more confidence that you can just take it deep."

Thompson held or shared the lead with Ernst for much of the day, finishing without a bogey on the course where she claimed her first LPGA tour title in 2011.

"It helps knowing the golf course really well," said Thompson, who was runner-up here in 2012. "It's probably in the best shape I've seen it, especially the greens are rolling really well.
Source: AFP