Young takes lead at LPGA's Brazil Cup

Published May. 28, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Heather Bowie Young shot a 6-under 66 in chilly and rainy conditions Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Suzann Pettersen and Lindsey Wright in the LPGA Tour's 36-hole Brazil Cup.

''It wasn't ideal, but we really just had two significant downpours that really didn't last very long,'' Young said. ''Really the only hole that was difficult because of the weather was the third hole because its already a long hole and since it was raining it made it even longer.''

Young had eight birdies and two bogeys at Itanhanga Golf Club in the 30-player exhibition event.

''I had a good day,'' the American said. ''I hit my irons well and was able to make putts and that's really all it comes down to to play well. ... I don't really expect anything, I'm just going to try to go out there and do the same thing I did today. I just want to go out there with a good clear head.''

Pettersen is coming off a victory last week in the Sybase Match Play Championship in Gladstone, N.J.

Catriona Matthew, the 2009 winner while five months pregnant, was three strokes back at 69 along with Azahara Munoz and Mariajo Uribe. Defending champion Meaghan Francella had a 71, and Cristie Kerr, second in the Match Play event, opened with a 72.

The winner will receive $108,000 from the $720,000 purse. Golf will return to the Olympics for the first time in more than 100 years at the 2016 Games in Rio.