Japan's Nasa Hataoka is on track to win her first LPGA Tour tournament after carding a bogey-free 6-under-par 65 in Saturday's second round to take a share of the lead at the NW Arkansas Championship.

The 19-year-old Hataoka shot six birdies at the Pinnacle Country Club to tie Australia's Minjee Lee for the lead. Both golfers sit atop of the leaderboard at 13-under following 64s on Friday and have each bogeyed just once after 36 holes of the 54-hole event.

"My shots were stable and I got a lot of chances. I felt like the greens were slow and I was off a lot (on chances during the opening holes), but I was able to adjust my putting," said Hataoka, who didn't birdie until her seventh hole of the round.

Lexi Thompson of the United States is two strokes behind the leaders in third after shooting a low-round 64. First-round leader Gaby Lopez, who opened with a career-low 63, fell down into 42nd following a 4-over 75.

(Minjee Lee plays her tee shot on the 16th hole)
[Getty/Kyodo]

Japan's Harukyo Nomura nearly met her second-round goal, shooting a 5-under 66 for a share of 21st place at 6-under.

"My putting was good. I had a decent score, but I was able to make it even better," Nomura said. "My golf is sloppy right now, but I'm doing my best with that."

After carding a 70 and 72, Ayako Uehara ended even after two rounds and missed the cut.