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Morgan Pressel shoots record 64 to lead LPGA Kia Classic

Image: Morgan Pressel: Storms into share of lead in California

Morgan Pressel's course record 64 was enough to lift her into a tie for the lead at the halfway stage of the LPGA Kia Classic in California.

Pressel carded eight birdies with no bogeys in a round that matched the course record at Aviara Golf Club near Carlsbad.

Her 10-under par total of 134 tied her for the halfway lead with South Korean Lee, who signed for a second-round 69 that included six birdies and three bogeys - she had led after 18 holes.

They sit one stroke in front of Americans Alison Lee, who climbed up the leaderboard with a 66, and Cristie Kerr, who carded a 68.

Spain's Maria Hernandez also posted a six-under 66 to grab a share of fifth place on eight-under 136. She was tied with Japan's Sakura Yokomine (67), South Korean Kim Hyo-Joo (68) and American Brittany Lang (68).

World No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand headed a group on 137, firing a two-under 70 for her 26th straight LPGA Tour round under par - she is tied with world No 3 Stacy Lewis, who shot 69, and Alison Walshe, who carded a 67.

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Pressel said: "I hit almost every fairway, and I think I hit 16 or 17 greens and just had a chance for birdie on almost every hole.

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"I just hit it where I wanted to hit it today. It's been a while since I've been confident knowing where the golf ball would go, and so it was nice to swing freely out there today and have the result that I did.

"It's hard to win out here. Sure, you would like to win more. But I've put a lot of time and hard work in."

Ko, the 17-year-old sensation who became world No 1 in February, is closing in on Swedish great Annika Sorenstam's LPGA record of 29 successive under-par rounds set back in 2004.

She said: "I don't know all the records and all the details on that, but like I always say, I'm going to try and have fun. If I play good golf and break some records, great."

Watch coverage of the LPGA Kia Classic's final two rounds on Sky Sports 4 this weekend. Third round action starts at 10:00pm on Saturday.

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