Darkness falls on LPGA's Arkansas stop with Lee and Ji tied

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ROGERS, Ark. (AP) -- Meena Lee shot a 5-under-par 65 to end Saturday at 12 under and share the lead with Eun-Hee Ji, who had two holes remaining in the second round of the weather interrupted LPGA's P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship.

Angela Park sank an uphill birdie attempt from about 25 feet on her final hole to cap a 10-under 62 and sit a stroke off the lead with Kristy McPherson at Pinnacle Country Club.

McPherson answered Park with a birdie of her own, draining a downhill putt from the fringe, about 20 feet from the hole to finish with a 69.

"Obviously, everything went right today," said Park, who equaled the lowest round on the LPGA Tour this year.

About half the field was still on the course when play was suspended because of darkness. The tournament has been delayed twice by bad weather.

Seon Hwa Lee, who opened with a 64, didn't start her second round until after Park and McPherson finished. Seon Hwa Lee struggled to keep pace, starting her second round with seven straight pars, but she eventually reached 11 under with two holes left.

"Because of the rain, the course overall was a lot softer today," Meena Lee said through a translator. "It was easier to hit the iron shots today."

Meena Lee is a two-time LPGA Tour winner, but hasn't finished higher than 12th this year. She and Ji are both from South Korea.

McPherson finished her first round at 8 under, playing the final five holes Saturday morning. Friday's start was pushed back about five hours because of rain, and bad weather halted play for over 90 minutes Saturday. McPherson hoped to take a nap after her first round, but that plan fell apart when she was assigned an 11:30 a.m. tee time for the second.

"I didn't play bad golf this afternoon," McPherson said. "I just got lapped."

Play is scheduled to start Sunday at 6:30 a.m. local time. Doug Brecht, the LPGA Tour's vice president of rules and officials, estimated the final round could began between 9:00 and 9:15 a.m.

Park finished with four straight birdies and made 11 in the second round. She is playing with confidence after tying for third last weekend at the U.S. Women's Open.

"Everything just went the way I wanted, and I had nothing on my mind," Park said. "Just one shot at a time -- like any golf mentor will tell you."

McPherson shot a first-round 66 at this event last year and was one shot off the lead, but the tournament was called off after 18 holes because of rain. The weather has been a factor this year, too, but the delays are only part of the story. The wet course has allowed low scores.

Cristie Kerr moved into contention with a 65 after an even-par first round. U.S. Women's Open champion Inbee Park was also at 7 under with her second round in progress. Inbee Park was in a group with Morgan Pressel and Paula Creamer. Pressel was at 6 under, and Creamer improved to 3 under after a first-round 73.

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