Delacour holds onto Portland lead, Kemp falls behind

Perrine Delacour has held onto the Portland Classic lead with another bogey-free round at Columbia Edgewater, shooting a 5-under 67 in perfect conditions a day after opening with a 63 in the rain.

"You had to adjust for the pins, especially on the wedges," Delacour said. "But it was definitely nicer. I mean, even though the bag is still wet from yesterday, but it was definitely nicer to be in shorts and polos instead of rain gear."

Winless on the LPGA Tour, the 29-year-old Frenchwoman took a one-stroke lead over Linn Grant into the weekend on the tree-lined layout.

"I just kept patient," Delacour said. "I mean, of course, coming from a leader on the first day, shooting 9 under, you know you're not going to shoot twice 9 under."

Delacour has five top-10s in 11 seasons on the LPGA Tour, with her career best a third-place finish in the 2020 Women's Australian Open.

"I'm the kind of person to overthink," Delacour said. "So, the goal is I'm going to do some stuff to keep my head busy and not thinking about golf."

Grant, the 24-year-old Swede who won the Dana Open in July in Ohio for her first LPGA Tour title, followed an opening 65 with a 66 to get to 13 under.

"Obviously, nicer to play today when the sun is out," said Grant. "I think yesterday, getting to shoot like a minus 7 was a huge advantage. It's not always very easy when it rains. I just tried to really take that advantage and continue that for today."

Megan Khang, coming off her first tour victory Sunday in Vancouver, British Columbia, was 12 under after her second 66.

Monday qualifier Chanettee Wannasaen (66) was 10 under with Ally Ewing (65), Elizabeth Szokol (66), Charley Hull (67), Ruoning Yin (64), Madelene Sagstrom (67) and Gina Kim (70).

They are one ahead of six players at 9 under, including Atthaya Thitikul and Yuka Saso.

Second-ranked Nelly Korda is in an eight-player group at 8 under after a 71.

Defending champion Andrea Lee (71) and two-time winner Brooke Henderson (68) were in the group at 7 under that includes leading Australian Sarah Kemp.

After opening with a 66, Kemp dropped down the field with a 71 and is tied 25th.

Grace Kim shot a 69 to make the 4-under cut by one and is two behind Kemp.

Lexi Thompson missed the cut by a stroke, shooting 72-69. She's outside the top 150 in the Race to CME Globe and is not likely to keep her full LPGA card for next year on current form.

Major winners Hannah Green (72) of Australia (2 under) and Lydia Ko (72) of New Zealand (even par) were among those to miss out.