Hee Young Park leads Kingsmill Championship

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Hee Young Park topped the leaderboard at 8 under Friday in the suspended second round of the Kingsmill Championship.

The South Korean player, fighting a lingering wrist injury, shot a 3-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over Stacy Lewis, Brittany Lang, Lexi Thompson, Azahara Munoz and Lizette Salas.

“Last week I rested like whole week, so I can I think more focus on the course and I’m ready,” said Park, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour. “Yesterday more hard ground, so a bit tough to hit solid, hit the ball. But today more soft fairway, everything, so it helped a lot. So more comfortable today. A lot of ice, good food, good sleep.”

The second-ranked Lewis, in position to take the top spot in the world ranking from Inbee Park, had a 65.

“Definitely have a better feeling coming off the course today,” Lewis said. “Just feel like I played a lot more solid, hit the ball better, definitely had more control going into the greens. I think less wind helped there. Just stayed really patient and made a few putts, and added up to a pretty good score.”

Lang finished with a 68.

“I’ve been playing really well and working really hard just trying to be confident out there and committed to my shots,” Lang said. “Working on a few things, so good first two days.”

Thompson, Munoz and Salas were unable to finish the round because of darkness after the start of play was delayed 3½ hours because of overnight rain. Thompson, the Kraft Nabisco winner, and Munoz had five holes left, and Salas had seven remaining.

Coming off a victory two weeks ago in the North Texas LPGA Shootout, Lewis would jump to No. 1 with a victory or a solo second-place finish, as long as third-ranked Lydia Ko doesn’t win. Ko, 2 under with six holes left in the round, needs a victory to move to No. 1. Inbee Park is skipping the tournament.

“I’m excited,” Lewis said about her lofty spot on the leaderboard. “This is a position I love to be in. I love giving myself a chance to win. I’m right where I need to be. I just got to keep staying patient and get a few putts to fall.”

Defending champion Cristie Kerr was tied for 12th at 4 under after a 71. She also won the Michelob Ultra at the course in 2005 and 2009.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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