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Yani Tseng in the second round of the Women's British Open at Royal BirkdaleANDREW YATES

Yani Tseng has increased her lead midway through the second round of the Women's British Open on Friday.

For the second straight day, Tseng fired a 4-under 68 giving her a two day total of 8-under par. The Taiwanese golfer, who capture the first major of the LPGA season, carded five birdies and a bogey.

"There was no wind this morning and it was very calm, so it was nice out there," the two-time major winner said. "The course played totally different than what we played the last three days, so it was really nice.

"I feel very confident and if I stay patient over the weekend and just keep playing the way I'm playing I have a good chance."

Tseng holds a four stroke lead over three other golfers including Amy Yang, Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome. Kerr's 5-under 67 is the low round of the day so far, thanks to six birdies and a bogey.

"I played really well today," Kerr said. "I was determined to be more relaxed out there. I've been putting a lot of pressure on myself since getting the No. 1 ranking and I hadn't really realized that's what was going on. So I just went out and did my thing today."

A further five strokes off the pace are Suzann Pettersen, Sun Young Yoo and veteran Juli Inkster.

World No.1 Shin Jiyai, who had to play in an afternoon downpour, fired a second consecutive 71 to remain six strokes back.

U.S. Women's Open champion Paula Creamer will make the cut with a stroke to spare after posting a 74. Still recovering from thumb surgery, she was in real pain after hitting a shot out of the rough at the 17th.

"It went into spasm and really hurt," she said. "But the same thing happened at the Evian Masters last week and it was fine by the next day."

Creamer called playing in pain all part of the "healing process".

Michelle Wie had a troublesome second round, two birdies, two bogeys and two double-bogeys for a 4-over-76. That leaves her at 2-over for the tournament which will be good enough to get her into the weekend.

Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. is at 4-over par following a 1-under 71 on Friday. Through 16 holes, Sharp was sitting at 6-over, two above the then cut-line of plus-4, until back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18.

Lisa Meldrum of Montreal did not make the cut after shooting a second round 79. After finishing the front nine at 1-over, she struggled on the back nine which included three bogeys and a quadruple-bogey 7 on the par-3 12th hole to leave her at 11-over for the tournament.

Catriona Matthew will not be around to defend her championship this weekend. The Scot posted a 10 on the 13th hole after her tee shot found a bramble bush. Her third shot ended up in the deep rough and she took three hacks before taking penalty drop and making the chip onto the green. She finished the tournament at 12-over.

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