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Stacy Lewis stays in lead of LPGA Classic with second-round 68

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BEIJING -- Top-ranked Stacy Lewis shot a 5-under 68 to maintain a two-stroke lead versus fellow American Brittany Lang after the second round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic on Friday.

Lewis opened with a bogey but followed that with three birdies on the next four holes, and three more on the back nine to get to 12-under 134 overall.

"It was a day that I just had to stay patient," said Lewis, who's looking for her fourth U.S. LPGA Tour victory of the year. "Didn't quite hit the shots around the greens that I needed to."

Lang (66) had seven birdies and no bogeys to tie for the low round of the day with Suzann Pettersen of Norway.

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The last time Lang came into the weekend so close to the lead was at the 2012 Manulife Financial Classic, which she went on to win. It's her only tour title.

Lang, who has just one top-10 finish this year, said she's hoping to learn from Lewis when the friends play together in the final group.

"(I'm) definitely going to be out of my element, a little intimidated," Lang said. "So, playing with her, watching her, and trying to play well and do my thing is going to make me better. If I could play with her on more weekends, then I'll be doing pretty good."

Caroline Masson of Germany (68), Mirim Lee of South Korea (68), Belen Mozo of Spain (69) and Caroline Hedwall of Sweden (71) were tied for third at 8 under.

The fourth-ranked Pettersen made seven birdies in her bogey-free round to improve to a share of ninth place at 6 under.

Defending champion Shanshan Feng of China was in a tie for 39th at even par after shooting a 71.