American Nicole Castrale shot a four-under 68 yesterday to take a two-shot lead after the second round of the US$1.3 million Honda LPGA Thailand tournament at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi.

Chasing her first title, the 27-year-old Californian who has her husband Craig caddying for her, made a flying start on the front nine with six birdies - four on the first four holes - before stumbling with bogeys on the 13th and 16th.

"I birdied the first four holes and played really solidly all the way through," she said. "The back nine was windy and I tried to execute my shots, but sometimes it didn't go in," added Castrale, whose best result was fourth at the Fields Open in Hawaii this year.

Castrale has never held a lead for two consecutive days in an LPGA event and admitted to feeling the pressure.

"There is always pressure. I'm going to look at it as the opportunity and try to hit the fairways and the greens. Hopefully this is the week that it all comes together," she said.

Castrale is two strokes ahead of South Korean Hee-Won Han, who hit a four-under 68 yesterday. Hee-Won, who hails from Seoul, did well on the back nine with birdies on the 10th, 11th, 13th and 14th.

"I was a little disappointed because I had two three-putts today," she said. "On the eighth hole I three-putted and on the 16th I three-putted again, so I wasn't happy with this. But I still played good."

American Christina Kim finished in third place yesterday after a six-under 66.

Kim, who is 38th on the money list, picked up birdies on the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 15th and 16th and eagled the 7th.

"I really didn't even realise how I was playing until about the 14th hole or so," she said. "I came up to the 14th hole and I thought, 'you know what, I'm playing pretty well today'," said the 22-year-old from California, who suffered cramps in her calves yesterday due to the heat.

Fourth place was shared by American Diana D'Alessio and South Korean Gloria Park with a seven-under total of 137. D'Alessio yesterday hit a three-under 69, while Park, who had an eagle on the 11th, fired a four-under 68.

First round co-leader Heather Young of the US failed to maintain her form and dropped back to sixth place after four bogeys and a one-over 73 yesterday.

After a sluggish first round where she hit a one-under 71 and was tied in 22nd place, the high-profile Christie Kerr regained her momentum and had four birdies yesterday to jump up to seventh place.

"Today was better. I could have easily shot six- or seven-under but maybe it's out there for me tomorrow. I'm going to have to post a low number tomorrow," said Kerr, who has won six titles.

Thai player Titiya Plucksataporn, who did well on the opening day, had a disastrous round yesterday and hit two balls into the water on the 17th. She finished with a seven-over 79 and was tied in 53rd place.

"I did pretty well on the front nine, but then I lost my concentration on the back," she said. "I made the wrong decision on the 17th by going for the left and everything collapsed from then."

Titiya's fall left Onnarin Sattayabanphot as the best Thai player on the course. She was in joint 39th place after finishing even par.

With her father Prawat as her caddy, Thai-American Stacy Prammanasudh had a one-under 71 yesterday. The 27-year-old from Oklahoma is making only her second visit to Thailand in 18 years.

"I love it every time I come here. When I was nine I came to visit my family and did some sightseeing," said the 17th-ranked player, who will start using her husband Pete Upton as her caddy from next year.

Virada Nirapathpongporn improved on her opening round but still picked up one bogey yesterday to finish the day in 55th place. Despite her unimpressive results, the Orlando-based Thai still had a big crowd of fans supporting her yesterday.

"I felt more relaxed than yesterday and played my shots better than yesterday," she said. "I'm overwhelmed to have a lot of support both from fans and friends whom I had not seen for a long time," added the Thai ace, who was presented with roses by some of her fans.

South Korean Aree Song could not find her tempo yesterday and had six bogeys to finish in 57th place.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation

Chonburi