Mobile, Ala. — Laura Diaz closed with three birdies for a 5-under 67 Friday to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the LPGA Tournament of Champions.
Diaz moved to 11-under 133 at the Magnolia Grove's Crossings Course. Heather Daly-Donofrio was alone in second after a second-round 66. Lorena Ochoa had her second straight 68 and is tied with Christina Kim (70) at 136.
Laura Diaz tees off on the 15th hole during the second round of the LPGA Tour's Tournament of Champions. Diaz led the tournament at 11-under-par Friday at Magnolia Grove Golf Course in Mobile, Ala.
Diaz is No. 36 on the LPGA money list and needs a good showing to climb into the top 30 and qualify for next week's season-ending ADT Championship. She is $33,923 behind No. 30 Stacy Prammanasudh, who is not playing in the Tournament of Champions.
"It was a good day today," Diaz said. "The course was soggy with all of the rain, but the greens crew did a good job of getting the course ready for us. With the greens soft, you just have to go out and be aggressive and keep shooting at the pins."
Diaz needs to finish at least fifth to have a chance to compete in the final event.
"I'm trying my hardest not to think about that," Diaz said. "I'm just trying to play the best golf I can, and if I play well and get to play next week, then great. It's an honor to be in the top 30 and play in that great tournament."
Daly-Donofrio, who is in the field only because tournament officials extended the eligibility criteria to winners from 2001, had her finest round since a career-low 65 in the first round of the Welch's Fry's Championship in March 2003.
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