Yin, Kim share LPGA LA Open lead

The Chinese golfer suffered a low round as she fired eight birdies in a round of seven-under 64

LOS ANGELES:

China's Yin Ruoning fired eight birdies in a career-low LPGA round of seven-under 64 on Friday to grab a share of the second-round lead with Kim Hyo-joo at the Los Angeles Open. 

Yin, 20, teed off on the 10th at Palos Verdes Golf Club and was three-under through her first eight holes. 

She picked up four birdies in a five-hole stretch, including three straight at the fifth, sixth and seventh on the way to a 10-under par total of 132. 

Kim, whose five LPGA titles include a major at the 2014 Evian Championship, carded her second straight 66, posting five birdies without a bogey. 

Yin, playing the second event of her second LPGA campaign, was impressive on the greens, needing just 24 putts. 

She had seven straight one-putts on the first through seventh holes, but she said the real key to her round was ball-striking. 

"I felt my game was in a pretty solid spot right now. I can strike the ball well and my approach shot is pretty good," she said. 

"Last year I only play fade with every shot. This off-season I was working on maybe hitting a little draw, and I think that works," she said. 

Kim had two birdies on the front nine and three coming in, taking advantage of all three par-fives. 

But she said avoiding a bogey was key. 

"There were a couple situations actually where I could have carded a bogey, but in those instances my putter worked well," she said. 

The leading duo were one stroke in front of Japan's defending champion Nasa Hataoka, who posted a 66. Canadian Maude-Aimee Leblanc was in fourth on 134 after a second straight 67. 

South Korean Lee Mi-hyang, the Monday qualifier who led after the first round, slipped seven shots off the pace with a three-over par 74.