Francella was 5-under for her second nine at the Sky 72 Golf Club in Incheon while Grzebien had three birdies in a five-hole stretch to pull into a tie for the lead.
Jiyai Shin was among six players tied for third, one stroke off the lead. More than half the field of 71 players broke par Friday, but that didn't include world No. 1-ranked Lorena Ochoa, who was tied for 45th at even-par 72.
Francella played the back nine first Friday and had eight pars to go with a birdie at No. 15. She had a birdie at the first hole -- her 10th -- but jumped up the leader board with four consecutive birdies from Nos. 4-7.
Grzebien spread out her birdies over a bogey-free round. She opened with a birdie at No. 1 and also beat par at the sixth hole. She had birdies at 10, 12 and 14 and added a 4 at the par-5 finishing hole for a share of the lead.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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