Sandra Gal leads LPGA's Titleholders at halfway point

NAPLES, Fla., Nov. 22 (UPI) -- Sandra Gal shot a 3-under-par 69 Friday and extended her lead to three strokes at the LPGA's CME Group Titleholders tournament in Florida.

Gal led by a stroke after the first round but was able to move ahead with a five-birdie, two-bogey round Friday. She is at 11-under 133.

Yoo Sun-young turned in a second consecutive 68 and is at 8-under for the tournament, which is second. Cristie Kerr, with a 69 Friday, is tied with Gerina Piller (67 Friday) and Pornanong Phatlum (68) for third at 6-under.

World No. 1-ranked Inbee Park was even-par in the second round and sits at 4-under, tied for ninth, in the tournament. Suzann Pettersen, ranked second, also shot 72 Friday, and is even for 36 holes. That is a tie for 33rd.

Lydia Ko, at 16 making her professional debut, on Friday matched her first-round 71 and is 2-under going into the weekend.

Rebecca Lee-Bentham started the day in second place but struggled through a 4-over 76. Her round Friday included three early bogeys and a double-bogey 6 at the ninth hole. She dropped into a tie for 15th, eight strokes off Gal's lead.

Gal's first round included birdies on the first six holes she played. She didn't have that kind of string Friday but did manage three birdies in the final six holes. She had two bogeys -- at Nos. 2 and 9 -- and birdies at 6 and 7 on the front side.