Minjee Lee and Nasa Hataoka posted matching 65s on Saturday and share the lead after 36 holes of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at 13-under par.
Lee finished her day with seven birdies against one bogey, while Hataoka’s bogey-free round included six birdies.
Lee, the four-time winner from Australia, said, “I just took advantage of the calmer conditions. I think I turned five under. I had one-under on the back, so six under total. I bogeyed the last hole, but oh, well.”
Hataoka, a 19-year old from Japan, who owns four top-10 finishes in her last five starts, said, “I think it’s good to play in the morning, but I just picked it up last nine holes and I just tried to keep like get the distance right. That’s the key to my play today. I just try play my game, that’s the key.”
The lead duo are two strokes ahead of Lexi Thompson who shot a 64 to reach 11-under 131. Celine Boutier and Ariya Jutanugarn sit T4 at 10-under par 132 following rounds of 66.
THE TOP 10
1. Nasa Hataoka -13
1. Minjee Lee -13
3. Lexi Thompson -11
4. Celine Boutier -10
4. Ariya Jutanugarn -10
6. Ally McDonald -9
6. Brittany Altomare -9
6. Austin Ernst -9
6. Mariah Stackhouse -9
6. Thidapa Suwannapura -9
6. Mirim Lee -9
6. Lizette Salas -9
QUOTABLE
“So far, so good. I mean, life is always good when you’re on the LPGA.”
– Minjee Lee
