Patient Piller maintains Marathon Classic lead

LOS ANGELES, California: Gerina Piller, chasing her first LPGA title, fired a second-round 68 on Friday to maintain a one-shot lead after two rounds of the Marathon Classic in Ohio.

Piller had four birdies and a bogey in her three-under effort and her 11-under total of 131 put her one stroke in front of South Korean Kim In-Kyung, Taiwan´s Chen Pei-Yun and Americans Lexi Thompson and Nelly Korda.

Piller, who seized the tournament lead with an eight-under 63 on Thursday, teed off on 10 and opened with six pars before a birdie at 16.

She followed her lone bogey of the day at the par-three second with three straight birdies.

Korda seized her share of second place with a seven-under 64 that included three birdies to end her round.

Her storming afternoon effort put her at 10-under 132. Thompson carded a 65 to reach 10-under while Kim posted a 67 and Chien a 68.

India´s Aditi Ashok followed up a first-round 65 with a 68 for sole possession of sixth place on 133.