Three tied for Marathon Classic lead
SYLVANIA, Ohio -- Beatriz Recari, Paula Creamer and Alison Walshe are locked in a three-way tie atop the leader board at 8-under-par 134 after Friday's second round of the LPGA Marathon Classic at Highland Meadows Golf Club.
Jacqui Concolino was alone in fourth at 7 under after a round of 68.
Recari carded the best score of the day with a 6-under 65. Back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 10 and 11 dropped her to 3 under, but she responded by playing the final seven holes in 5 under and holed out from 152 yards to eagle the par-4 15th hole.
Creamer got off a hot start with birdies at Nos. 1 and 2 but cooled off a bit and was 1 under for the rest of her round. Her birdie putt from about 20 feet on the 18th hole to grab the outright lead lipped out after catching the left side of the hole.
Walshe, the first-round leader, made a birdie putt from about eight feet on the 18th hole to tie Recari and Creamer.
Concolino, who finished on the back nine, birdied Nos. 6 and 7 and threatened to tie for the lead, but her birdie putt on the ninth hole from the fringe slipped just past.
Inbee Park, Chie Arimura and amateur Lydia Ko were tied for fifth at 6 under.
Park, the No. 1 player in the world, shot a 2-under 69. She birdied her last two holes after three bogeys stalled her round.
Ko, the only amateur in the field, fired a 4-under 67 to put herself in contention.
Defending champion So Yeon Ryo was in a group of three at 5 under after firing a 69. Lexi Thompson, who began the round tied for second, also was at 5 under after shooting a par 71.
NOTES: Katherine Hull-Kirk carded the first hole-in-one of the tournament, using a 5-iron from 172 yards on the par-3 14th hole. She won a 2014 Kia Cadenza for the ace. ... American Solheim Cup captain Meg Mallon was on the grounds to evaluate a number of players she is considering as captain's picks. The Marathon Classic is the second-to-last tournament before the Cup. ... Local product Caroline Powers, born in Bowling Green, Ohio, missed the cut.
