Kim Song-hee on top at LPGA Korean event

INCHEON, South Korea, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Kim Song-hee rode a string of four consecutive birdies to the lead of the LPGA Hana Bank Championship in South Korea.

Kim, in position to claim her first LPGA title, had six birdies and two bogeys Saturday for a 4-under 68 and two-round total of 8-under 136. She's up by one stroke over tournament defending champion Choi Na-yeon, who also at a 68 Saturday, with one round to play.

Vicky Hurst, who was tied with Kim for first after the first round, had a 2-under 70 Saturday and is in third at 6-under for the tournament. Juli Inkster, who fired 68 Saturday, is in fourth just three strokes back of Kim. Another six players are tied at 4-under 140.

Kim has played the first seven holes at the Sky 72-Oceans Course in 7-under in the first two rounds. Saturday she had birdies at Nos. 4-7. She had bogeys at Nos. 10 and 17 but countered those with birdies at 14 and 18.

"I played really well in the early part of the round but I struggled with my shots in the last part of the round," Kim said. "I managed to overcome some bad putting. I think I can play well tomorrow if I play the way I played today."