Meena Lee surges to front at rain-disrupted Arkansas LPGA event

ROGERS, Arkansas (AFP) - South Korea's Meena Lee posted a seven-under 65 to take a one-shot clubhouse lead during a rain-interrupted second round of the LPGA Arkansas Championship on Saturday.

Play was called because of darkness with 70 players still on the course late Saturday. Play was delayed twice by rain and the second round will resume early Sunday followed immediately by the final round.

Lee, who recorded five of her eight birdies on the front nine, birdied all three par-three holes on the back nine to take the lead in the 54-hole event at Pinnacle Country Club.

"Because of the rain, the course overall was a lot softer today," Lee said. "It was easier to hit the iron shots today."

The former Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) player of the year Lee overcame her lone blemish - a bogey on the 16th hole - to finish at 12-under 132. Brazil's Angela Park and Kristy McPherson, of the US, are tied for second.

Park equalled the lowest round on the LPGA Tour this year by posting a career-low round of 10-under 62. The 19-year-old recorded 11 birdies, including seven on the back nine.

After tying for third at the US Open last weekend, Park finished her round with four birdies to remain right on the heels of Lee.

"Obviously, everything went right today. Just one hole hiccup there," Park said, referring to her bogey on the 12th hole. "But I've been hitting the ball great and coming into this week.

"I've been putting very well, which was always my struggle in my game. So I took a lot of confidence from the finish last week, and I'm feeling good.

McPherson mixed five birdies with two bogeys to finish three-under for the day and 11-under for the tournament.

"I didn't play bad golf this afternoon," McPherson said. "I just got lapped."

South Korean Eun-Hee Ji was seven-under for the day and 12-under through 16 holes on Saturday when play was postponed.

Three-time LPGA Tour winner Seon Hwa Lee, who fired a season-low 64 on Friday, was 11-under for the tournament through 16 holes.

Play was delayed for five hours Friday morning, and 72 players resumed the first round early Saturday morning.