CLIFTON, N.J. - Two consecutive bogey-free rounds bolstered by plenty of birdies have Brittany Lincicome on top of the leader board heading into the weekend at the LPGA Tour's Sybase Classic at Upper Montclair Country Club.
Lincicome, who holds a two-shot advantage over Suzann Pettersen and Ji Young Oh, backed up her first round 64 with a solid 69, giving her a chance to win another high profile event against a world-class field. Lincicome won last month's Kraft Nabisco Championship, the Tour's first major championship of the year.
"It's nice to just be under par," said Lincicome of Friday's effort. "I really had no expectations today, just to keep it under par. I was hitting it good yesterday, when I went to the range this morning I felt like I was hitting it really well. I hit 17 greens today, which is pretty phenomenal."
Across the board scores were higher on Friday compared to Thursday when twelve rounds in the 60s were shot. The consensus among the field is that the greens at Upper Montclair are as difficult to read as the faces seated at the World Series of Poker's final table.
"They are really tricky," said Lincicome. "They are very subtle. They have some poa annua in them, which I am not really used to. I don't know if it hits different or breaks different, but we didn't have it figured out today."
"There's so much going on with the greens," said Paula Creamer, who finished Friday with a birdie to join a group of five players at 5-under par. "That's what makes this golf course so difficult. You have to hit good iron shots."
"I feel like I'm playing pretty consistently," said Michelle Wie, who is also at 5-under after a round of 69. "I missed a lot of putts on the back nine, but I'm pleased with how I played today. And hopefully on the weekend there will be more birdies.
Wie, who is still looking her first professional victory, spent a good deal of time on the practice putting green working on her technique with her dad after Friday's round in hopes of putting together a weekend charge.
"I feel like I can have a low round in me," said Wie. "I'm gonna go out with the same mentality as the last two days, try every shot as hard as I can and see where it takes me."
It will be a race to catch Lincicome over the weekend, and with cold and rainy conditions expected on Sunday, there is an extra emphasis on getting close to the leaders Saturday.
Helen Alfredsson and Wendy Doolan are both five shots back after very contrasting Friday performances. Alfredsson could only manage a 4-over 76 after shooting a career low 62 on Thursday to set a tournament record. Doolan made her move with a 68.
"I just didn't feel comfortable," said Alfredsson. "We have two more full days and I can make some birdies out here."
The group of players six shots off the pace includes Wie, Creamer, veteran Karrie Webb, Song-Hee Kim and Sandra Gal.
Three-time defending Sybase Classic champion Lorena Ochoa is tied for 27th at 2-under-par.
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