Hall of Famer Karrie Webb fired a one-under 71 to rocket 20 places up the leaderboad and sit four shots behind frontrunner Se Ri Pak after the second round of the LPGA Championship on Friday.
Pak, who also shot a 71, took a one-shot lead while slumping Michelle Wie missed the cut with a 10-over 82.
“I’m happy to be back in this seat,” Pak said. “Before I teed off, I knew it was tougher because of the wind. It was very difficult. I tried not to make big mistakes. I’m very happy about the finish.”
Seven-times major champion Webb, who was in 39th place after her opening round 74, is now in a tie for 19th after a round that included five birdies.
Fellow Australian Sarah Jane Smith sits six shots off the pace after her second round 72 while Katherine Hull, who is a further four shots back, narrowly avoided missing the cut.
South Korea’s Pak, who is playing for the first time since injuring her shoulder two months ago, is at three-under 141 heading into the weekend of the major championship event.
She has a one stroke lead over South Korean Inbee Park, American Paula Creamer, Japan’s Mika Miyazato and Sandra Gal of Germany.
Pak made bogey on the par-three seventh but managed to salvage par on four consecutive holes on the front nine.
“Right now, I’m still not 100 per cent,” said Pak. “I’m slowly better every day. Out of an injury, you don’t have high expectations.”
American Wie missed the cut by following her opening round of 74 with an 82.
Wie wasn’t alone. A total of 14 players, including Australian Wendy Doolan who shot a 77 round, broke par on Friday after 16 broke par Thursday.
Defending champion Yani Tseng struggled to make the cut. She opened with a 76 then followed with a 75 to finish the two rounds at seven-over 151.
Tseng’s back nine was her undoing as she finished with five bogeys.
Tseng routed the field at last year’s LPGA Championship, winning by 10 shots over Morgan Pressel and Cindy LaCrosse.
Tseng, who has won three of the first five events on the 2012 LPGA Tour, has five career major titles on her resume and has already wrapped up the LPGA Tour Player of the Year Award for the second straight year.
First-round leaders Beatriz Recari, Giulia Sergas and Ryann O’Toole, fell off the pace on a day that strong winds added an extra challenge on the Locust Hill Country Club. Sergas and O’Toole shot 76, and Recari fired a 78.
Cristie Kerr was two under after a 76. Kerr posted a dominating win in 2010.
Eun-Hee Ji (68) had the lowest round of the two days and was in a six-way tie at 143.