Avnet LPGA Classic - 2nd Round

Sandra Gal posted 67 Friday to take a one shot lead at the Avnet LPGA Classic.  Amy Yang is alone in second at -6 while Stacy Lewis, Karen Stupples and Song-Hee Kim are tied for third at -5.

Gal, this year's Kia Classic champion, took three bogeys on the day but still only missed Round of the Day honors by one shot (Ilhee Lee's 66 saved her from missing the cut).  Sandra  birdied eight times, including three in a row and five in a seven-shot stretch on the back nine.  Yang started on the back nine and went "out" in 31 to reach -7 but bogeyed 1 and finished with eight straight pars.  Overnight co-leader Kim birdied once and bogeyed once to maintain good position.  Her co-leader Grace Park didn't fare so well, bogeying five times en route to a 75.  Grace is now at -2 T16.  The cut was +3, allowing 77 players into the weekend's action including Cristie Kerr and Karrie Webb.  Not as fortunate were Yani Tseng, Michelle Wie, Mika Miyazato, Seon Hwa Lee and Vicky Hurst.

The first two rounds of Avnet served as a qualifier for 10 positions at the Sybase Match Play next month.  Earning their way in were Sandra Gal, Jenny Suh, Sarah Kemp, Mindy Kim, Alena Sharp, Paige Mackenzie and Grace Park.  Four players are tied for the final three spots - Aree Song, Mi Hyun Kim, Chella Choi and Haeji Kang - and their Saturday scores will determine who makes the Sybase.  After this qualifier and the Avnet is completed, the top four players on the money list not already in will make the field.

Just when we thought Yani Tseng was about to become the next Dominant Player, she misses the cut by two shots.  It could have been a lot worse as Yani eventually reached +10, but birdied five of her last six holes.  I don't recall Sorenstam or Ochoa reaching double-digits over par in their heyday (certainly not in a non-major).  Tseng has one of these every six or eight events - either an MC or 40-plus finish - and will have to either eliminate them completely or win ten times a year to become truly Dominant.