Ai Miyazato carded a second straight 3-under-par 69 to grab sole possession of the lead at the Japan Women's Open on Friday.
The popular 20-year-old, who is aiming to become the youngest ever Japan Women's Open winner, made five birdies against a pair of bogeys at Totsuka Country Club in Yokohama to move four shots clear of first round co-leader Kasumi Fujii and Yoko Inoue on 6-under 138.
Teeing off from the 10th, Miyazato bogeyed her opening hole but quickly regrouped to pick up three shots with birdies on the 12th, 13th and 17th holes.
She added two more birdies on her outward journey but closed with a bogey when she missed a par-saving putt on the par-4 ninth.