Favorite Brandt Snedeker equaled the Natadola Bay course record to move into second place Friday at the European Tour-sanctioned Fiji International. The American shot a seven-under-par 65 to finish the day one shot behind Australia's Matthew Giles heading into the weekend. The world No. 23, fresh from helping the United States end an eight-year Ryder Cup drought, said his bogey-free round put him in a good position. "I told myself going out this morning 5-under or better would put me right where I want to be," he said. "To go out and shoot seven, I know I don't have the lead, I think I'm one back, but I'm comfortable where I am going into the weekend, there's a lot of golf left." Hometown hero Vijay Singh ended the day 11th on the leaderboard after a disappointing three-over-par 75. The $1.1 million tournament is co-sanctioned by the Australasian PGA and, for the first time this year, the European Tour. Park, Jang share LPGA Tour lead In Taiwan, Hee Young Park and Ha Na Jang fought through gusty wind and early rain Friday to share the second-round lead in the LPGA Taiwan Championship. The South Korean players each shot their second straight 3-under 69 at Miramar. They also each had only one bogey, Jang on the par-4 15th when she got a chip only halfway to the hole and missed a 20-footer, and Park on the par-4 16th when she drove into a bunker and came up well short of the green in two. Canada's Brooke Henderson (71) was a stroke back along with China's Shanshan Feng (69), South Korea's So Yeon Ryu (68) and South Africa's Lee-Anne Pace (70). Defending champion Lydia Ko was tied for 18th at 1 under after a 73. The top-ranked New Zealander won by nine strokes last year, and has four LPGA Tour victories this year. Japan's Sakura Yokomine, the first-round leader after a 67, had a 75 to drop into a tie for 10th at 2 under. American Paula Creamer, a stroke back entering the day, also was 2 under after a 75. Home favorite Yani Tseng was tied for 65th at 8 over, following an opening 79 with a 73. She won the inaugural event in 2011 at Sunrise, and took the last of her 15 LPGA Tour titles in March 2012. US Women's Open champion Brittany Lang was another shot back after rounds of 75 and 78. Noren leads in Scotland Ryder Cup rookies Thomas Pieters and Rafa Cabrera-Bello made a low-key return to the European Tour Thursday, posting two-under-par 70s in the opening round of the Dunhill Links Championship. Swede Alex Noren, chasing his third victory of the season, led the way on 64 at the pro-am event that is being played on three courses — St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns. Pieters birdied the par-four seventh at Carnoustie after hitting a monster drive on to the green at the 401-yard hole. Spaniard Cabrera-Bello began his Dunhill campaign with four birdies and two bogeys at Carnoustie. England's Ross Fisher was in second place on 65, one ahead of compatriot Matt Ford and Swede Joakim Lagergren.
