MOBILE, Ala.- U.S. Solheim Cup star Christina Kim shot her second straight 5-under 67 on Friday for a share of the second-round lead with Australia’s Rachel Hetherington in the Mitchell Company LPGA Tournament of Champions.

Kim had four birdies and two bogeys – both on par 5s – in the first six holes.

“I wanted to come out and stay aggressive,” Kim said. “If I saw a flag, I wanted my ball next to it. I’m going to keep playing that way. Even when I try to play smart I walk off looking stupid. This is the kind of course where you can turn around four shots in two holes, so you have to stay aggressive.”

Hetherington shot a 65 to match Kim at 10-under 134 on the Magnolia Grove Golf Club’s Crossings Course. First-round leader Liselotte Neumann double-bogeyed the 17th en route to a 72 that left her four strokes back along with Hee-Won Han (68) and defending champion Heather Daly-Donofrio (70).

“There are a lot of great players here who have played great golf and I still think, on this golf course, it’s still could be anyone’s tournament,” Hetherington said. “I’m happy with where I am and it’s a good place to be.”

Hetherington bogeyed the first two holes to drop to 1 under for the tournament, but rebounded with a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fourth and birdied seven of the last 14 holes for her share of the lead.

Hetherington, No. 40 on the money list, does not have a chance to reach the top 30 on the money list to earn a spot next week in the season-ending ADT Tour Championship.

“My pride is hurt a little bit because I’m not in the top 30,” said Hetherington, winless since the 2003 Rochester LPGA. “I have a little extra to play for and finish on a high note this year.”

Angela Stanford (67) and Janice Moodie (69) were 5 under, and Solheim Cup players Paula Creamer (70), Pat Hurst (69) and Juli Inkster (73) were another stroke back along with Kim Saiki (68).

Annika Sorenstam, the 1997 winner at Westin Hills, is skipping the tournament to rest for the ADT Championship.

AP-ES-11-11-05 1855EST

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