Singapore (SportsNetwork.com) - Karrie Webb overcame three bogeys to shoot 3- under 69 on Friday and that helped her extend her lead to two strokes after two rounds of the HSBC Women's Champions.
Webb, who won this crown in 2011, ended 36 holes at 9-under-par 135.
Angela Stanford also shot 69 on Friday and that helped her climb into second place at minus-7. Teresa Lu is one stroke back at 6-under 138 after a second- round 70 on the Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club.
Anna Nordqvist, last week's winner in Thailand, fired a 5-under 67 and that helped her jump into a share of fourth place at 4-under-par 140. She was joined there by Paula Creamer (73), Morgan Pressel (69), Danielle Kang (70) and Caroline Hedwall (73), who double-bogeyed the final hole on Friday.
Na Yeon Choi, who finished second each of the last two years, and Suzann Pettersen both carded 2-under 70s on Friday. They share ninth place at minus-3 with Nicole Castrale (68) and Azahara Munoz (72).
Defending champion Stacy Lewis managed an even-par 72 in round two, and that left her tied for 39th at 3-over 147.
Webb and Hedwall traded the lead early in the second round. Webb stumbled to a bogey at the first to fall into a share of the lead with Hedwall.
Hedwall birdied the second to move one ahead, but Webb answered with birdies three and four, both from about eight feet out, to regain the lead. Her margin was two because Hedwall stumbled to a bogey on the fourth.
Webb converted another 8-foot birdie try on the sixth to move three clear of Hedwall and Stanford. Hedwall jumped back within one thanks to birdies at eight and nine.
At the ninth, Webb answered again with another birdie putt from inside 10 feet. Webb got up and down for birdie from short of the green on the par-5 12th, while Hedwall 2-putted for birdie on the same hole.
Webb was two ahead at that point, but she had to wait for a ruling on the 13th as her ball stopped near a metal valve cover. After a long wait, she got a free drop, then chipped to four feet.
The Australian missed the putt and tapped in for bogey. At the 15th, she pulled her tee shot into the water, but scrambled for a bogey, which dropped her into a share of the lead with Hedwall.
Hedwall 3-putted for bogey on 16 to fall one behind, then Webb birdied the 17th to push her lead to three over her playing partner, as Hedwall stumbled to a bogey on the par-3.
Webb parred the last to lead Stanford by two.
"I play well in Singapore because I enjoy coming to Singapore. Generally, if you feel good about a place, you play well," Webb stated. "It almost felt as if we were playing in the last group on a Sunday. When I made my mistakes, I had to remind myself, 'It's still only Friday.'"
Hedwall's second to the par-5 18th stopped in the right rough just above a sand trap. She went right under her ball with two chip attempts before blasting across the green. Hedwall 2-putted for double-bogey to close out her round.
Stanford did all of scoring in a 7-hole stretch. She birdied the sixth to move to minus-5, then poured in three straight birdie chances from the ninth to get within one of the lead. Stanford stumbled to a bogey on the 12th before closing with six pars in a row.
NOTES: Webb owns the 36-hole lead for the 31st time on the LPGA Tour ... She has won 18 of the previous 30, but the last time she won with the 36-hole lead was the 2006 Longs Drugs Challenge ... Stanford hasn't won since claiming this crown in 2012.