Kemp fired an 8-under 63 over the Highland Meadows Golf Club course, three shots under her previous best. That left her at 11-under 131, tied with first-round co-leader Laura Diaz.
Diaz, who missed the cut in six of her previous seven tournaments, shot a 67 that included four birdies in her final six holes.
Morgan Pressel was alone in third at 132 after shooting a 68. Tied for fourth at 133 were Seon Hwa Lee, Natalie Gulbis and rookie sensation Jiyai Shin.
Shin shot a 67 in a bid to win her second straight tour event. She has won twice and is the LPGA Tour's leading money winner this year.
Michelle Wie was tied for seventh at 134 and world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa was among those at 135.
Kemp was in the third group off the tee early Friday and began a streak of four straight birdies at the fifth.
"My putter was amazing," she said. "I don't know how many putts I had, but I don't think it was many. I just tried to have fun and tried not to think about how many birdies I was making."
Copyright 2009 by United Press International
Post new comment