Recari leads LPGA's Kia Classic after second round

CARLSBAD -- Spain's Beatriz Recari shot a five-under-par 67 to take the lead of the Kia Classic after two rounds at Aviara Golf Club on Friday.

Recari held a one-stroke advantage over Paula Creamer and Karrie Webb heading in Saturday's third round. Recari, who opened the tournament with a 69, said her play from Thursday carried over into the second round.

"I had great momentum from (Thursday)," said Recari, ranked No. 6 in the world. "I felt like I left some putts out there. It was kind of shaky to putt on the greens yesterday, so today I started with a good opportunity, birdie opportunity on 2 and 3 that just lipped out.

"I was just patient out there and managed to make birdie on 5 and 6 and that kind of got me a little bit more positive and just kind of keeping that momentum going."

Recari registered five birdies overall, three on the front nine, in her bogey-free round. Recari, whose lone Tour victory was the 2010 CVS Pharmacy Challenge, has come close to winning this season. She finished tied for fourth at the ISPS Honda Women's Australian Open and tied for third at the Honda Thailand in February.

At the last two Tour stops, the HSBC Women's Champions and the RR Donnelley Founders Cup, Recari tied for 24th and 35th respectively.

First-round leader Jane Park fell two shots off the lead, finishing the second round at even par with a 72 for a fourth-place tie with Cristie Kerr, Haeji Kang and Inbee Park.

Caroline Hedwall and Lizette Salas were tied at ninth, three shots back.

Stacy Lewis, the world's No. 1 player, who is seeking her third consecutive Tour victory, was among four players who were four shots behind the leader.

NOTES: After double-bogeying the 13th hole, South Korea's Jin Young Pak nailed a hole-in-one on 14 Friday. Pak, who finished the second round with a three-over 75, won a new Kia for the hole-in-one. ... Michelle Wie missed the cut again after recording a 74 for the second day in a row. She bogeyed four holes during the second round. She had two double-bogeys and a bogey in the opening round. Wie also missed the cut at last week's RR Donnelley Founders Cup in Phoenix. ... South Korea's Jiyai Shin, the No. 3 player in the world, who made all of her cuts last season, also was among the players failing to finish above the cut line.