Clanton seizes lead

LOS ANGELES: Cydney Clanton holed out for eagle from the fairway at 13 and rolled in a birdie at the last to seize the second-round lead at the LPGA Founders Cup in Arizona on Friday.

Clanton shook off an early bogey and fired four birdies along with her eagle in a five-under par 67.

“I played really good and made some clutch putts coming in,” Clanton said. “The hole out was pretty special, any time you don’t have to putt is nice.”

Her nine-under par total of 135 put her one stroke in front of a quartet of players that included overnight co-leader Karine Icher of France, Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and American Marina Alex.

Clanton, seeking her first win on the LPGA Tour, was even through the first nine holes with one bogey and one birdie.

After a birdie at the par-five 11th, she posted an eagle two at the par-four 13th, where her wedge into the green took one bounce and found the cup. She added another birdie at 15 and took sole possession of the lead with her birdie at the last.

“It has been a while since I’ve been in the lead, so (on Saturday I’m) just going to take it one shot at a time, one hole at a time,” Clanton said.