Annie Park pared seven of Friday’s last 10 holes at the Dana Open with a par of 8-under 63, taking a one-stroke lead over US Open women’s champions Alison Corpuz, Lynn Grant and Garavi Ponchant.
Park closed her ninth open at Highland Meadows with a birdie on the 18th and added birdies on the first four holes on the front nine. She also chased down the numbers 7 and 8, and played her last nine at 6-under 28 to reach 11-under 131.
“I just got some really good shots,” Park said. “I recovered really well from bad shots. Overall, I played really well.”
The 28-year-old Park won the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic for her only title. She won the 2013 NCAA title and led Southern California to the team championship.
“My goal this week was just to focus on good shots,” Park said. “Just play light there. Whether it’s a good shot or a bad shot, it’s still the same. Just a normal shot. So, my goal was not to value bad shots as much and to value good shots more. And that’s what I’ve been trying to focus on this season.”
Corpuz, coming off her big win Sunday at the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach, hit a 66 for her second straight bogey-free round.
“I think, frankly, the fatigue kind of helped ease the nerves a little bit,” Corpuz said. “Get out there, just focus on doing the same thing. Try and make good shots. Just one shot at a time.”
Grant and Ponchant, tied for the first-round lead at 64, each shot 69.
“The tee shot wasn’t as good as it was yesterday,” said Ponchant. “So, I put myself through a lot of rough. I only hit seven passes today.”
Grant and Ponchant do not win in the round.
“I’m excited,” Grant said. “I feel like my game is there, even though it just didn’t materialize today. Just, I’m really excited to get out there and play it all and not hold back.”
Twelve-time Tour winner Arya Gutanugarn leads the pack with eight under 69s. Jungyeon Lee (64) was also under 8 with Lindy Duncan (65), Gemma Dryburgh (66), Maria Vasi (67), Matilda Kästeren (68), Linnea Ström (68) and Emily Pedersen (69).
Defending champions Gabe Lopez (65), Lydia Ko (68) and Mingyee Lee (68) were in the group at 7-under. Jin Yong-koo was the highest-ranked under-five after 68 years.
Rose Chang, the former Stanford star who won the Liberty National in her first LPGA Tour event as a pro, followed an opening of 66 with a 77 to miss the cut.