Nasa Hataoka fired a 67 for a two-day total of 11-under-par 131, good enough for a 1-stroke lead over Mel Reid and first-round co-leader Lee Mi Hyang in the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Friday.
A day after she tied her season low of 64, the 21-year-old Japanese with three LPGA Tour victories finished strongly with birdie putts from four feet at the 16th and three feet at the par-5 18th at Seaview Resort in Galloway, New Jersey.
"My shots were inconsistent but I finally improved my game toward the very end," said Hataoka, who posted five birdies and one bogey.
"It was great I birdied two of the last three holes and pulled a 4-under. Of course, I'm always aiming to win. I want to keep improving my score while playing my kind of golf."
The 72-hole event features six Japanese players. Yui Kawamoto shot 70-70, Hinako Shibuno shot 68-72 and Ayako Uehara went 71-71 to make the weekend rounds.
Harukyo Nomura and Suzuka Yamaguchi missed the 36-hole cut.
