Harukyo Nomura shot a 5-under-par 66 and tied for second after the second round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Friday, a stroke off the pace, as overnight leader Ai Miyazato dropped to eighth.
Nomura, who has two wins this season, started the day in fourth and carded one eagle, five birdies and two bogeys at the par-71 Stockton Seaview Golf Club. She was tied at 11-under-par 131 with South Korean Choi Na-yeon, while Karine Ichar of France shot into the lead with a 9-under par 62.
One day previously, Nomura three-putted on the par-5 No. 3 to miss a birdie. But in her second crack at the hole's undulating green, she hit the mark.
"There's a mound in the middle and a slope so it was difficult," she said of her eagle putt. "But I got my revenge."
After a bogey on No. 4, Nomura birdied Nos. 8 and 9, and she followed her back-nine bogey on No 14 with birdies on three of her final four holes.
"My shots were good today and my putts were going in," said Nomura, who won her maiden title on the U.S. tour in February and added her second in April.
"I'm not focused on the title. The only thing I'm concentrating on is playing my game."
Former world No. 1 Miyazato, joint-top after the first round, bogied Nos. 1 and 2 and ended the day on even-par with three birdies and bogeys each.
"It was a day when I couldn't find the distance with my shots and set up few (birdie) chances. Frankly speaking I'm glad I wrapped it up on even par," Miyazato said.