NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C., May 17 (UPI) -- Janice Moodie a native of Scotland who owns one LPGA Tour title, had a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 on Friday to build a two-shot advantage over first-round leader Laura Davies of Britain midway through the Asahi Championship.
Moodie scattered six birdies around the challenging Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Club and had the low round of the day to reach 8-under 136.
Davies, the only player within three shots of Moodie, followed a 67 with a 71.
Dawn Coe-Jones is alone in third at 140, with Betsy King, Grace Park of Korea and Laurie Brower at 141. Only 16 players are under par after two rounds, including Swedish Star Annika Sorenstam at 142.
Among those missing the cut was 12-year-old Michelle Wie, who followed an 81 with a 75.
Moodie began the day in a tie for third and had a pleasant surprise awaiting her when she arrived at the course parking lot for her noon EDT tee time as local police officers set aside a front-row parking spot.
Feeling at ease with the hospitality, Moodie has a 36-hole lead for the third time in her five-year career. She won one of the events and tied for second in the other, but still said she'll be nervous come the weekend.
Moodie felt fine Friday, playing flawlessly over the 7,107-yard layout that features some of the most difficult greens on tour and offers golfers a variety of shots.
Moodie started well, sinking a 20-foot birdie putt at the second and a six-footer at the third. Playing somewhat conservatively, she birdied just one of the next six holes, avoiding trouble on the greens.
Moodie birdied the 10th hole and followed five straight pars with a two-putt birdie at the par-5 16th. She finished with another birdie to open a two-shot lead.
Saturday, she'll be paired with Davies, who is one of the longest and winningest players in tour history, sitting just two points short of the Hall of Fame. Davies defeated Moodie in match play last season.
After opening with a solid 67, Davies stumbled a bit Friday, sandwiching three birdies in a four-hole span late on the back nine with a pair of bogeys. She said the difference was her approaches to the undulating greens.
