EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France, July 22 (UPI) -- Miki Saiki used a strong start Friday in taking the lead after two rounds of the LPGA's Evian Masters tournament in France.
Saiki shot a 5-under-par 67 in the second round and is at 9-under 135 after 36 holes and one stroke ahead of a group of five players. That group includes Angela Stanford, who closed with three consecutive birdies for the day's best round at 6-under 66.
Also in second are Stacey Lewis (67 Friday), Ai Miyazato (68) and two of the three first-round co-leaders Maria Hjorth and Ahn Shin-ae, who each shot 69 Friday. The third co-leader -- Karen Stupples -- had a 70 in the second round and is tied for seventh, two strokes behind Saiki.
Saiki was coming off an up-and-down round Thursday that included eight birdies and four bogeys. She opened Friday's play with a birdie at the first hole and added another at No. 3.
She made back-to-back birdies at 6 and 7 and made the turn at 5-under after a birdie at the ninth hole. Saiki had another birdie at 11 but slipped with a bogey at No. 12 before six consecutive pars to end the round.
