Ryu leads Women's Australian Open

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) U.S. Women's Open champion So Yeon Ryu shot a 4-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over fellow South Korean player Hee Kyung Seo after the second round of the LPGA Tour's season-opening Women's Australian Open.

Ryu, a playoff winner over Hee in July at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., had a 6-under 140 total on Royal Melbourne's Composite Course, the 2011 Presidents Cup venue that is hosting a women's professional event for the first time.

Hee shot a 66, the best score in the first two days of the tournament also sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies European Tour.

American Stacy Lewis, the Kraft Nabisco winner, birdied Nos. 12 and 13 to take the lead at 7 under, but followed with a triple bogey-7 on No. 14 and bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16. She eagled the par-5 17th and closed with a par for a 73 to finish at 4 under.

American Jessica Korda, England's Melissa Reid and Paraguay's Julieta Granada also were 4 under. Korda had a 70. Her father, Petr Korda, won the 1998 Australian Open tennis title. Reid shot a 71, and Granada had a 72.

Two-time defending champion Yani Tseng was even par after a 76.

The top-ranked Taiwanese star won the tournament, sanctioned by the LPGA Tour for the first time this year, the last two seasons at Commonwealth Golf Club. She won 12 worldwide titles last year, including major victories in the LPGA Championship and Women's British Open.

Sixteen-year-old American teen star Lexi Thompson was 2 over after her second 74.

Four-time champion Karrie Webb was 4 over after a 75.

Fourteen-year-old New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko also was 4 over after a 76. She won the New South Wales Open two weeks ago to become the youngest winner of a sanctioned professional tour event.

Second-ranked Suzann Pettersen followed her opening 80 - the second-highest score of her LPGA Tour career - with a 71 to make the cut. Fourth-ranked Cristie Kerr missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 78.

Former UCLA star Stephanie Kono had a miserable start to her LPGA Tour career, shooting 78-92. She played her final nine holes in 16-over 52, carding 8s on the par-5 second and par-3 third and a 7 on the par-4 sixth.