Ontario: Catriona Matthew shot a 64 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead after the second round of the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. Matthew's 15-under 127 at the tournament's midway point blew away her previous career-best 36-hole mark on tour by five strokes.
"It feels really good, I've holed a lot of putts but I've given myself a lot of chances," Matthew said. "I wouldn't really say I've holed many super-long ones but just every time I've given myself a chance I'm kind of taking advantage of them."
American Angela Stanford shot a 67 and was second, while Inbee Park, who is looking to win her fourth straight LPGA Tour event, had a 67 and was tied with three other players at 10-under. Ryann O'Toole (65), Anna Nordqvist (64) Belen Mozo (66), Chella Choi (65) and Meena Lee (66) were all 11 under.
Matthew sank a 25-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fifth and added five more birdies, taking advantage of the soft greens following rain earlier in the week.
"I would say first time here, suits my eye a little bit, maybe just got the speed of the greens," Matthew said. "When you're holing putts, it all seems quite easy."
It was warm and sunny Friday but the greens were still moist from rain earlier in the week. Stanford played this event in its first season last year and said the course is playing much different this time around.
"The firmness of the greens last year made it a little bit tougher," she said. "You had to kind of pay attention to where you were landing it. This week they're so soft you can kind of go pin hunting."
The wide fairways and open layout of the 6,330-yard, par-71 Grey Silo course rewarded consistency off the tee. The ball often stayed near the pin after quality approach shots instead of rolling through, resulting in many birdie and eagle opportunities.
Eleven players cracked the double-digit mark after only 36 holes. It could mean a score of -20 - or better - will be needed to win.
The weather forecast is calling for the same comfortable conditions over the last two rounds.
"Anywhere in the world if greens get soft, it makes it a lot more accessible," Stanford said. "I don't think the layout is what makes it easy....just the fact that they've had so much rain here and it's softer."
Park is trying to become the first golfer to win four straight LPGA tournaments since Lorena Ochoa in 2008.
"This golf course is very scorable, and a lot of people are going on birdie streaks," Park said. "It's tough to follow that many birdies all four days. I'm trying my best to get it out there."
Nancy Lopez holds the tour record with five consecutive victories in 1978, a mark tied by Annika Sorenstam over the 2004-05 seasons.
Park recently won the U.S. Women's Open to become the first player to win the year's first three majors since Babe Zaharias swept the three majors played in the LPGA's inaugural season in 1950. Park will go for her fourth major in a row at the Women's British Open next month.
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