Saturday 21 June 2014 08:18, UK
A second successive round of 68 from Michelle Wie put her into a strong three-shot lead at the halfway stage of the US Women's Open at Pinehurst.
The 24-year-old, still searching for her first major victory in 38 attempts, overtook Thursday's front-runner Stacey Lewis, who had a disappointing three-over par round of 73.
Wie is the only player under par for 36 holes as Pinehurst's No 2 course, venue for the men's US Open last week, began to toughen up.
She took advantage of ideal scoring conditions after an early start to post a four-under total of 136.
Lexi Thompson improved on her opening-day score of 71 to fire a two-under 68 that sees her sitting in second place and three strokes behind Wie overnight.
South Korea's Amy Yang, who teed off in the morning, shot 69 to move to level par, in joint third place with Australian amateur Minjee Lee.
After arriving on the scene as a precocious teenager Wie initially struggled to deal with big expectations but has adapted her mentality.
"I think I used to be too worried about the final score and where I was standing," the American, who finished second at the year's first major the Kraft Nabisco Championship, told a press conference.
"I was too concerned about what place I was in, instead of just trying to play the best I could every hole and that's what I'm trying to do now.
"I'm trying not to focus on if I'm leading or not, if I'm second or third, how many back I am, but what I can shoot the next day, what I can shoot today."
Eleven-year-old amateur Lucy Li recorded nine pars but still shot an eight-over 78 for the second successive day to comfortably miss the cut.
