Lexi Thompson fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 to grab a three-shot lead midway through the LPGA Tour Championship in Naples, Florida.
Thompson, without a victory in 2018, capped her round with three straight birdies at Tiburon Golf Club Friday to pull away from overnight leader Amy Olson and fellow American Brittany Lincicome.
Her 36-hole score of 12-under par 132 tied the tournament record set by Lydia Ko in 2016 and matched by Park Sung-hyun in 2017.
Thompson is the only player without a bogey through 36 holes and is on the way to expunging the memory of a missed two-footer that cost her victory here last year.
A victory would extend her streak to six consecutive LPGA seasons with at least one win.
"I gave myself the birdie opportunities I wanted," said Thompson, who missed just one fairway and found all 18 greens in regulation.
"Wish I would've made a few more, but definitely not complaining with the five-under round and the finish I had."
"I four-putted 15, was above the hole and just hit it way too hard then I did it again on the par-5 (17th). I was doing so great all day, and then all of a sudden it was just like small explosions in my putting stroke."
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