Sports

Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Women's world No. 1 Yani Tseng posted a two- under 70 on Friday to grab a one-stroke lead after 36 holes of the LPGA Founders Cup.

Tseng, who shared the first-round lead with Hee Young Park, finished two rounds at nine-under-par 135 at the Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.

I.K. Kim fired a six-under 66 to jump into a share of second place at minus- eight. She was joined there by Meena Lee (67), Ai Miyazato (68), Na Yeon Choi (69) and Mika Miyazato (67).

Park managed an even-par 72. She slid into a tie for seventh at seven-under- par 137. She stands alongside five other players including defending champion Karrie Webb (69).

Tseng started on the back nine Friday and posted nine straight pars to open her round. She finally got on the board once she made the turn.

She birdied the first to move to eight-under, but missed a short birdie putt at the second. That par was the first of four in a row for Tseng.

Tseng faltered to a bogey on the sixth, but came right back with birdies on seven and eight to take over the top spot on the leaderboard. She parred the last to cling to a narrow lead.

"I played really well today. I made lots of good shots, good drives, but I just didn't make enough putts to get more birdies," Tseng said. "But I had a good stroke, some of [the greens] were really hard to read, but it's good I make good stroke instead of bad stroke."

The 23-year-old has opened the season with three top-eight finishes, including a win in Thailand.

Kim had moved into a shared of the lead, but fell back. She also started on the back side and had four birdies in her first nine holes.

After a birdie at 18, Kim birdied the first three around the turn to make it four straight birdies, which gave her a piece of the lead.

However, Kim tripped to a bogey at the fourth. She parred her last five holes to share second.

"I think I left a few putts out there, but everybody has the same story, I guess. So I just have to keep playing good golf, hit some good solid shots, and kind of enjoy on the weekend," said Kim, who played through a sore ankle.

Lee had three birdies on both nines, but a bogey on the par-three fourth cost her a share of the lead.

Ai Miyazato birdied the second, then traded a bogey for a birdie from the eighth. Around the turn, she had three more birdies to grab a share of second.

Mika Miyazato, who is no relation to Ai, carded a bogey-free round with two birdies on the back nine, then three more in a four-hole span on the front side.

Choi also had a bogey-free round with three birdies.

NOTES: Kristy McPherson fired a seven-under 65, the low round of the day, to finish 36 holes at six-under 138...The cut line fell at even-par 144 with 77 players moving on to the weekend...Brittany Lincicome, Natalie Gulbis, HSBC Women's Champions winner Angela Stanford and Catriona Matthew were among those that missed the cut...Lincicome hadn't missed a cut since early in the 2010 season at the Kia Classic...Hannah Yun carded a double-eagle on the par-five 15th, but still struggled to a two-over 74, which left her at plus-seven.

03/16 22:34:51 ET