Taiwan's Tseng takes LPGA Ginn lead with course-record 64

Rookie Yani Tseng jumped out to the lead at the 1.3 million dollar Ginn Open by firing a course-record eight-under 64 in Friday's second round.

The rising Taiwanese star had nine birdies and broke Cristie Kerr's mark of seven-under 65 set here two years ago.

The 19-year-old Tseng moved to 12-under 132 and has a two-shot lead over Suzann Pettersen.

"Yeah, it was awesome," Tseng said when told she set the course record. "I know that. I just tell my coach I break the tournament record for that. But I still hope I can break my record - 62 is my record. But I still feel very good, and I'm excited for tomorrow."

Tseng, whose best finish was sixth at the Canadian Women's Open in August, came out with plenty of spark. She made birdies on six of her first nine holes - including four straight beginning at number three. Her lone blemish was a bogey on 18.

She turned professional just 15 months ago but already has won the Indian Open and one tournament on last year's Canadian Tour.

In just five starts on this year's LPGA Tour, Tseng has two top-10 finishes, including a runner-up performance at the MasterCard Classic in Mexico last month.

Norway's Pettersen rolled in eight birdies to finish at six-under 64.

Pettersen, who bogeyed at Nos. 8 and 14, rebounded to birdie three of her final four holes for an overall 10-under 134.

"Today, I just tried to kind of play my own came, stick to the game plan and try to be aggressive where you can be aggressive on this golf course," Pettersen said. "I haven't really looked much on the leaderboard. Just tried to play my own game. Just got it going there and just kept it going. It was nice to finish with a birdie after that bogey on eight."

Hot on Pettersen's heels was Mexican Lorena Ochoa, who is looking for her fourth straight win.

The 26-year-old, who won the Corona Championship last Sunday, is vying for a fifth win in six tournaments this year.

The world number one, Ochoa played a flawless round Friday, making birdie on four of five holes beginning at nine and finishing with a five-under 67.

"It was one of those days that it's just easy," Ochoa said. "Giving myself a lot of birdie chances, I never really had to make a long putt for par or anything. Especially the back nine. I played really good the back nine, four-under on the back."

Ochoa's 135 had her tied for third with Minea Blomqvist of Finland.

Blomqvist had eight birdies en route to a six-under 66 on Friday.

Sweden's Carin Koch and Taiwan's Teresa Lu, who shared the lead after the first round, each posted a three-under 69 and were tied for fifth at 136.

Former world number one Annika Sorenstam was well off the pace, tied with 15 others for 41st at one-under 143.