INCHEON, South Korea – Karine Icher of France shot a 4-under 68 in the second round to take a one-stroke lead and sit atop the European-dominated leaderboard at the KEB-HanaBank Championship on Friday.

Icher birdied three of her final four holes for a 5-under 139 total on the Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club.

Brittany Lincicome of the United States, who birdied her final two holes for a 70, and Beatriz Ricari of Spain (70), were tied for second.

Azahara Munoz of Spain (69) was among those tied for fourth, two strokes behind, as was Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Sandra Gal of Germany, who shot 71s.

The wind subsided but Icher said she played “a completely different course” in the second round because of the changing wind directions.

“This week, my coach was here and we practiced a lot of low shots,” Icher said. “It seemed to pay off. Here, it’s always windy. I’ve never played in Korea without wind. Low shots are pretty strong in my game now.”

Icher has five victories on the Ladies European Tour but none on the LPGA circuit.

“It’s the final four or five tournaments for us, so I’d like to win one,” Icher said. “There’s nothing else I’m looking for.”

Lincicome’s tee shot on the par-3 17th hole nearly won her a new car for a hole-in-one when it rolled and hit the flagstick, but it bounced a few feet away.

“I like tournaments where not too many, maybe like five or 10-under par wins, so just keep doing 2-under each day, and I’m right there,” Lincicome said.

No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot 69 after an opening 73 and was three strokes behind and tied for 10th along with Haeji Kang of South Korea, who led by two strokes after an opening 67 but shot 75 Friday.

Second-ranked Inbee Park, who could move to No. 1 with a win in the absence of top-ranked Stacy Lewis of the United States, carded 73 and was five strokes behind Icher. Ko could also move to No. 1 with a win.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie improved from her opening 76 with a 70, and was seven strokes off the lead. Wie is making her first start since withdrawing during the first round of the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring a stress fracture in her right hand.

Women’s British Open winner Mo Martin also improved from her opening 78 with a 69 in her return from a thumb injury. She’s eight strokes behind.

Defending champion Amy Yang of South Korea, who made 69 on Thursday, posted 79 with eight bogeys and one birdie and was nine behind Icher.

There was no second-round cut in the field of 78.

INCHEON, South Korea – Haeji Kang shot a 5-under 67 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead over five players, including three fellow South Koreans, after the first round of the LPGA’s KEB-Hanabank Championship.

Lee Il-hee and defending champion Amy Yang shot 69s along with another South Korean, Mirim Lee. Australian Minjee Lee and Catriona Matthew of Scotland were also tied for second on the wind-swept Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club.

“I think looking back on my game overall today, I did very well,” Kang said. “Especially in the first nine holes, there were a couple of risks of actually bogeying some holes but I was able to stop and save with my putting.”

There were eight golfers tied for seventh another shot back, including No. 4-ranked Suzann Pettersen of Norway and American Brittany Lincicome.

Second-ranked Inbee Park, who could move to No. 1 with a win in the absence of top-ranked Stacy Lewis of the United States, was a further shot back with a 71. Park married swing coach Gi Hyeob-nam on Monday in Seoul.

“Whenever I go to a tournament, I’m just very quiet and just doing my own thing,” Park said. “This week I really tried to approach it the same way. Obviously it was a busy week and I didn’t get in a practice round.”

Lincicome was pleased with her round given the tough conditions.

“Obviously nobody can prepare for the wind that was today,” she said. “But I think today was more just staying calm and knowing that scores were not going to be super low and just try to be patient.”

No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot 73.

Eight of the top 10-ranked players are competing in the South Korean event.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie opened with a 76. She’s making her first start since withdrawing during the first round of the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring a stress fracture in her right hand.

Women’s British Open winner Mo Martin had a 78 in her return from a thumb injury. Fellow American Paula Creamer shot 81.

Martin played her round in a splint because of her injury and said she had to adjust her grip.

“I had no expectations today,” Martin said. “I knew I was going to have to work back into tournament mode. I was going to have to see how my thumb held up. It’s going to be a process.”

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – China’s Shanshan Feng rallied to win the LPGA Malaysia on Sunday for her fourth LPGA Tour title, playing a six-hole stretch on the back nine in 6 under.

The 25-year-old Feng, four strokes behind Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum entering the round, closed with a bogey-free 8-under 63 for a three-stroke victory over Phatlum.

“I like to come from behind,” Feng said. “I had no pressure at all today. … What I was doing was just to focus on every shot and just try to do my best and hope that putts can fall.”

Feng birdied Nos. 11-14 to tie Phatlum at 16 under and pulled away with a four-stroke swing when she holed a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th and Phatlum made a double bogey on the par-3 15th. She set up the eagle with a 3-wood approach similar to the shot that led to a winning eagle last year in China in the Reignwood LPGA Classic.

“I hit the 3-wood with like a smooth swing,” Feng said. “Then I was hoping to get a good bounce, which I did. It reminded me kind of like 18 hole Reignwood last year. Same club. It’s the magic 3-wood again. I made an eagle again. I think that was pretty important for my win.”

She parred the last two holes to finish at 18-under 266 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

Playing a group behind Feng, Phatlum birdied the 16th and closed with two pars for a 70. She was trying to become the LPGA Tour’s first Thai winner.

Sweden’s Pernilla Lindberg and South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu and Chella Choi tied for third at 14 under. Lindberg had a 63, and Ryu and Choi shot 67.

Lydia Ko missed a chance to take the No. 1 ranking from Stacy Lewis. The 17-year-old New Zealander needed to win and have Lewis tie for 12th or worse. Instead, Ko closed with a 70 to tie for eighth at 11 under. Lewis had a 69 to tie for 21st at 7 under.

Feng is projected to jump from ninth to fifth in the world. In addition the victory last year in China, she also won the 2012 LPGA Championship and 2013 Titleholders.

She was second last year, four strokes behind Lexi Thompson.

“I’ve had a very good record here,” Feng said. “Maybe just one time I was out of top 10. Last year, I came close. I was second. So this year, I improved.”

The tournament was the second in the tour’s six-event Asian swing. The LPGA KEB-HanaBank is next week in South Korea, followed by the Blue Bay LPGA in China.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum made six birdies on the front nine on her way to a 6-under 65 Saturday that gave her a three-shot lead after the third round of the LPGA Malaysia tournament.

Pornanong moved to 14-under 199 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club, ahead of Japan’s Ayako Uehara, who had three consecutive birdies from the 12th hole in a round of 69.

Four players were tied for third a stroke further back, including second-round leader So Yeon Ryu, who had double bogeys at both the 17th and 18th to give up her lead.

Her South Korean compatriot Chella Choi was also at 10 under after a 68, along with China’s Shanshan Feng (69) and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (70).

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – So Yeon Ryu of South Korea shot a 6-under 65 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead halfway through the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, the second event of the tour’s six-tournament Asian swing.

Ryu, the reigning Canadian Pacific Women’s Open champion, had seven birdies and a bogey to move to an 11-under total of 131, leading a group of four players including Japan’s Akayo Uehara, whose second-round 63 contained eight birdies.

Also at 9 under were Lydia Ko of New Zealand and Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England, who both carded 64s in the second round, and Eun Hee Ji, who shot 67.

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis, who shot 65 to take the first-round lead, slipped to a share of 11th place with a 71.

South Korean golfers have won six of the past seven LPGA tournaments.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Top-ranked Stacy Lewis shot a 6-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead at the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia, the second event of the tour’s six-tournament Asian swing.

Lewis birdied the par-5 16th hole to break away from a tight leaderboard at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Tied for second were the South Korean quartet of Na Yeon Choi, Hee Young Park, Eun Hee Ji and So Yeon Ryu.

Golfers from South Korea have won six of the last seven LPGA tournaments.

Amy Yang of South Korea and China’s Shanshan Feng were among a group tied for sixth after shooting 67.

Natalie Gulbis shot 69, Karrie Webb carded 70, and Lexi Thompson – who won by four strokes here last year – had a 71. Paula Creamer shot 75.

“My goal was to shoot a 1 or 2 under on the front and I got off to a good start,” Lewis said. “It was kind of shaky on the first three holes but I just hung in there and gave myself a lot of birdie chances and I was fortunate to make a few. So it was a little bit of an ugly round, but I got a lot out of it.”

Choi, who teed off from the 10th, said she was pleased to be only one stroke behind after nearly putting her ball in the water on her approach on the par-4 second hole, her 11th of the day.

“I had one bogey out there, but I was lucky the ball did not roll into the water,” Choi said. “I hope to come back with a good feeling tomorrow.”

Feng finished tied for 49th in her native China last week, and was happy to be playing away from home this week.

“I’m more relaxed,” Feng said. “Last week, I think people wanted me to win again, and I told everybody I was not going to give myself pressure, but I think I still did a little bit. I tried too hard and actually it went the wrong way.”

Last week, South Korea’s Mirim Lee won the Reignwood Classic in Beijing for her second victory of the year. The LPGA KEB-HanaBank is next week in South Korea, followed by the Blue Bay LPGA in China.

BEIJING – South Korea’s Mirim Lee won the second title of her rookie LPGA Tour season, shooting a 5-under 69 in the final round on Sunday to capture the Reignwood Classic by two strokes.

Starting the day tied for third, Lee birdied three holes on the front nine and added two more on No. 16 and 18 to offset one bogey. She finished at 15-under 277.

Lee’s first LPGA victory came just two months ago at the Meijer LPGA Classic, where she beat her third-ranked countrywoman Inbee Park in a playoff.

“I really didn’t think I would get my second win this quickly,” Lee said. “I was a lot more nervous this time than first time around.”

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis and Caroline Hedwall, the co-overnight leaders, both fell short on a windy final day at Pine Valley Golf Club.

Hedwall, who was aiming for her first LPGA title, shot a 73 to finish second at 13 under.

“It was tougher out there today,” the Swede said. “I think most girls out there were struggling a little bit with the wind, because it’s a tough golf course in the wind.”

Lewis, meanwhile, started off her round with a birdie, but bogeyed No. 7 and added three more bogeys on the back nine to slip out of contention. She shot a 75 for equal sixth at 11 under.

Lee said she learned a lot playing in the final group with Lewis, who was aiming for her fourth title of the year.

“Usually when I play my rounds I don’t watch the other players,” she said. “Today I really observed how Stacy played, and she was such a phenomenal player. It shows why she is the No. 1 player in the world.”

In 17 events this year, Lee has made the cut 13 times and has four top-10 finishes. With the win, she will move up 11 spots in the world rankings to No. 18.

Park shot a 71 to finish in a share of third with fellow South Korean Haeji Kang (69) and American Brittany Lang (72) at 12 under.

BEIJING – Stacy Lewis recovered from a slow start with four birdies on the back nine Saturday to take a share of the lead with Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall heading into the final round of the LPGA Reignwood Classic.

The top-ranked Lewis started the day with a two-stroke lead over fellow American Brittany Lang, but fell back with three bogeys through the 11th hole. She then made three straight birdies from No. 13 before closing with a birdie on the 18th to regain a share of the lead with a 72.

“I made some bad swings early,” Lewis said. “Probably the swing I made on 13, on the par 3, I don’t know what it was, but things just kind of seemed to click after that. You know, just kind of found some confidence in my golf swing from there, and then making the putts too, which was nice.”

Hedwall made five birdies on the back nine to shoot a 5-under 68. She will be aiming for her first career LPGA title on Sunday, while Lewis will be trying to win her fourth this year.

“I put myself in the position a few times but just haven’t won yet,” the Swede said. “When I go out there tomorrow I’m trying to just be patient and be relaxed about it though, because you can’t force anything when you’re playing golf.”

Hedwall and Lewis were at 13-under 206 at Pine Valley Golf Club.

Lewis said another title would also help put distance over her closest rivals in the race for LPGA player of the year.

“A win this week would help that a lot,” she said. “I don’t think I’m comfortable until the last tournament and nobody else can beat me. It’s one of those things I don’t think you get too comfortable with. The players behind me are great players and can win two tournaments in a row pretty easily.”

Second-ranked Inbee Park of South Korea stayed in contention Sunday with a 68. She’s tied for fifth with Germany’s Caroline Masson (71) at 10-under 209.

“I had really nothing to lose really today,” Park said. “I was in the middle about 12th or 15th place. I had to make some kind of move today to have a chance tomorrow.”

Lang shot a 72 to sit in third with South Korea’s Mirim Lee (70) at 11 under.

VENICE, Fla. – Ginger Howard of Bradenton, Fla. shot a 1-under 71 Friday to earn medalist honors at the LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II at Plantation Golf and Country Club.  Howard finished with a four-day total of 9-under 289, one stroke clear of Alison Lee of Valencia, Calif.

The cut was made at 7-over 295 and 85 will advance to Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament.

Howard won medalist honors in 2011 at LPGA Qualifying Tournament Stage II and will be heading to her fourth final stage. She is the first player to medal twice.

“It is really neat to medal again,” said 20-year-old Howard. “It is a different feeling this time around. The first time I felt like I was going to get something and that it was over and that I accomplished something, but now I realize that I have not really accomplished anything yet and I am just going to stay humble this time around.”

“Last time, I was like ‘let’s go celebrate’ but this time I am going to stay poised.”

Leading the Canadians was Kelowna, B.C.’s Samantha Richdale, who finished at 5-under 283.

Team Canada’s Augusta James carded a final round 69 to tie for 10th at 3-under 285.

Mississauga, Ont.’s Brogan McKinnon led thru 36 holes and finished tied for 51st at 3-over 291.

Amateur SooBin Kim of Coquitlam, B.C. climbed into the top 80 thanks to a final round 69. She finished the event at 6-over 294.

Brittany Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. rounded out the Canadians advancing to the final stage of LPGA Tour Q-School. She tied for 78th at 7-over 295.

Final Stage of LPGA Qualifying Tournament will be held December 3-7 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.  The top 20 at final stage will earn category 12 status on the LPGA Tour priority list, while 21-45 will earn category 17 status on the priority list.

Players that finished 72 holes at Stage II, but did not advance to Stage III will have category “I” status on the Symetra Tour priority list.

Players that complete a minimum of 72 holes at Stage III and do not receive 2015 LPGA membership in category 12 will receive category “D” status on the Symetra Tour priority list.

Click here for full scoring

BEIJING – Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied the final hole Friday for a 5-under 68 and a two-stroke lead over fellow Texan Brittany Lang after the second round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic.

“It was a day that I just had to stay patient,” Lewis said. “Even coming in, I could have made a few more birdies. Didn’t quite hit the shots around the greens that I needed to.”

Lewis had a 12-under 134 at Reignwood Pine Valley.

She holed some timely putts.

“Putts that kept the round going,” Lewis said. “That’s the thing. I’ve made them at the right time. I’ve had good speed all week.”

Lewis leads the tour with three victories and earnings of $2,214,143. Last year, she finished a stroke behind Shanshan Feng after the Chinese player eagled the par-5 18th.

Lang had a 66 to match the best round off the week – and set up a Saturday pairing with Lewis.

“We’re really good friends though and I have a lot of respect for her on the golf course.” Lang said about Lewis. “Yeah, definitely going to be out of my element, a little intimidated. She’s a great player. But at the same time, I’m trying to get better, too. So playing with her, watching her, and trying to play well and do my thing is going to make me better. If I could play with her on more weekends, then I’ll be doing pretty good. Maybe I can learn something from watching her.”

Germany’s Caroline Masson, South Korea’s Mirim Lee, Spain’s Belen Mozo and Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall were tied for third at 8 under. Masson and Lee shot 68, Mozo had a 69, and Hedwall a 71.

Fourth-ranked Suzann Pettersen followed her opening 74 with a 66 to reach 6 under.

“I played some good golf yesterday. I had six birdies or something and shot 1 over, which is kind of a disaster,” Pettersen said. “Then I made a mess out of two of the par 5s.

“I don’t know if I was a little bit rusty and not sharp enough from not having played for quite a few weeks and it kind of got to me a little bit on certain holes. … Happy to bounce back with 7 under and put myself somewhere back in the tournament.”

Feng was tied for 39th at even par after a 71.