Thai teenager Ariya Jutanugarn fired an even-par 71 on Friday to keep a one-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA Kingsmill Championship.

The 17-year-old stood on seven-under 135 after 36 holes for a one-stroke lead over US veterans Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, German Sandra Gal and American Cristie Kerr were fourth on 137 with China’s Feng Shanshan, Japan’s Ai Miyazato, South Koreans Lee Il-Hee and Ryu So-Yeon and Americans Juli Inkster and Katie Burnett on 138.

Australian Karrie Webb stood six shots off the lead on 141 after rounds of 70 and 71.

Ariya of Bangkok captured her first professional title in March, when she won the Lalla Meryem Cup in Morocco on the Ladies European Tour by three strokes.

On Friday, she began her round off the 10th tee and opened with a bogey, then stumbled back with bogeys at the par-4 16th and par-3 17th. All came with missed putts from within five feet.

“I hit my irons very good – my driver is, like, perfect,” she said. “So I just wanted to try to fix my putting.”

She found her form with birdies at the par-5 third – where she rolled in a 45-footer – the par-3 fifth and par-5 seventh to jump back into the lead.

“You know, when I first started on the front nine, I saw the leaderboard, so it’s OK, I just want to keep (playing) my game,” said Ariya, who has finished in the top five in all three LPGA events she has competed in this season.

“Right now for me, everybody still has a chance to win, so I’ll just do my best my last two days.”

Stanford and Lewis both carded 68s for the second straight day – each with four birdies and one bogey in the second round.

Lewis, who played with Ariya at a tournament in Thailand earlier this year, says the most outstanding feature of the young player’s game is her lack of fear.

“She plays like a 17-year-old – she plays without fear,” Lewis said. “She swings at it hard and she hits it and she goes and finds it. It’s nice to see somebody get up there and just hit a putt and not worry about it.”

World No.1 Park In-Bee of South Korea fired a 72 to stand on 140, five off the pace in a share of 19th, while compatriot and defending champion Shin Jiyai also shot 72 to stand on 142 and tied 27th.