Angela Stanford shot a five-under 67 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead over South Korea’s Inbee Park after the second round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational
The winner of the inaugural tournament in 2009, Stanford had an 11-under 133 total at Guadalajara Country Club. The Texan won the Women’s Champions in Singapore in February for her fifth LPGA Tour victory.
Australia’s Katherine Hull is well placed for a top-ten finish after backing up her opening-round 68 with a one-under par 71.
Hull is in a share of ninth place, six shots off the pace at five-under.
Park had a 68, while Cristie Kerr was third at eight-under after a 69.
Second-ranked Stacy Lewis, coming off her tour-leading fourth victory of the season Sunday in Japan, was seven-under along with So Yeon Ryu and Candie Kung. Lewis and Ryu shot 70, and Kung had a 71.
Lewis has a 58-point lead over Park with two events left in the player of the year points race, putting her in position to become the first American to win the award since Beth Daniel in 1994.
2009 winner Michelle Wie, tied for the first-round lead with Stanford and Kung after a 66, had a 75 to drop into a tie for 12th at three-under.
Top-ranked Yani Tseng also was three-under after a 71.
Ochoa was one-under after a 72. The Mexican star won 27 LPGA Tour titles before retiring at age 28 in 2010. She missed the event last year before the birth of son Pedro in December.
Suzann Pettersen, coming off consecutive victories in South Korea and Taiwan, was even par after a 74.