DUBAI — World No. 1 Rory McIlroy stormed into a one-shot lead in the Dubai Desert Classic with a sparkling second-round 64 Friday. McIlroy birdied his closing three holes to move to 14-under par as he seeks to win the Dubai title for a second time since breaking through to claim a first professional success in the 2009 tournament. Scotland's Marc Warren stayed on target for a maiden Masters invitation and a fourth Tour title by shooting a 65 to sit in second place at 13 under par. Former US Open champion Graeme McDowell (65) and England's Seve Benson (66) were a further shot back. McIlroy started at six under par and picked up three birdies in his opening five holes. He parred the next four before back-to-back birdies at 10 and 11 and the four-times major winner displayed his enormous class with birdies at his closing three holes. “I'm definitely in a great position going into the weekend,” McIlroy told reporters. “I felt like I played very nicely today and I couldn't ask for much more, bogey-free, made birdies and set myself up for a good run over the next couple days.” McIlroy won three events in a row last season — the British Open, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and PGA Championship — but finished runner-up in his next three, the PGA Tour's Tour Championship, DP World Tour Championship and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. Rookie Jang in front South Korean rookie Jang Ha-Na fired a seven-under 65 to leap four shots clear of the field after the second round of the season-opening LPGA Tour's Coates Golf Championship Thursday. The 22-year-old Jang completed 36 holes at 12-under-par 132 in the event which was suspended by darkness for the second straight day. Jang only qualified for the tournament Saturday. “I had very nice iron shots,” said Jang, who has six victories on the Korean Tour. Jang's best shot of the day was a 25-foot putt on the final hole of the round that curled into the cup for a birdie. World No. 3 Stacy Lewis posted a two-under 70 and she is alone in second place at eight under at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club. Lewis got off to a slow start as she had five pars and a bogey through six holes. She caught fire in the middle part of her round. Lydia Ko, the world No. 2, shot three-under 69 to move into a share of third place. She was joined there by Azahara Munoz (71) as well as Angela Stanford and Austin Ernst, who were still on the course when play was called off for the day. Stanford completed 14 holes of her second round, while Ernst was through 13. Jessica Korda managed an even-par 72. Korda is tied for seventh place with Choi Na-Yeon. Paula Creamer, who had a hole-in-one Thursday, is tied for 16th while world number one Park In-Bee is tied for 45th. — Agencies
