Brazilian Park takes charge at Interlachen

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Brazil's Angela Park, helped by a 30-foot eagle putt at the par-five second, forged one stroke clear early in the U.S. Women's Open second round on Friday.

Six shots off the pace overnight, the 19-year-old fired a six-under-par 67 to vault to the top of the leaderboard with a six-under total of 140.

Park, seeking her maiden LPGA Tour title, putted superbly on the difficult greens at Interlachen Country Club to set the pace in the third women's major of the year.

"I came out today telling myself that I could go low because the greens were a little softer," the Brazilian told reporters after a round that also included five birdies and a lone bogey.

"And that's what I did. I made a lot of good putts out there, I was really calm and really having a lot of fun. That was the key, I think."

Finland's Minea Blomqvist birdied her final hole, the par-four ninth, for a 69 to lie one stroke back at five under with South Korea's Park Inbee (69).

American Paula Creamer (72) was at four under, level with Korean Jang Jeong (69).

Overnight leader Oh Ji-young, who opened with a 67, and world number one Lorena Ochoa were among the late starters.

COOL MORNING

Park, who tied for second in last year's U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles, birdied three of her first six holes on a cool, overcast morning to reach the turn in three-under 34.

After finding the first cut of rough to the left off the second tee, her 11th hole, she struck a five-wood to 30 feet above the cup and coolly sank the left-to-right breaking putt to get to five under overall.

Park picked up further shots at the fourth and fifth before collecting her only bogey of the round at the par-four sixth.

"I told myself anything under par today would be good to just get me back up in the tournament," she said after totaling 28 putts.

"My (putting) speed was fairly consistent. I had a couple of long putts, the eagle putt and a couple of birdie putts, but I hit good putts. Like Tiger (Woods) says: 'Get the speed right and they will drop'."

Three-times champion Annika Sorenstam, making her swansong appearance at the tournament, missed a four-footer for eagle at the last to card a 70.

That left her at one under, five off the early lead.

"I'm hitting the ball as good as I can," the 37-year-old Swede said after piling up five birdies and two bogeys. "I'm just going to work on a few things with my putter and I'm really looking forward to the weekend."

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)