SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Candie Kung knew she had to turn it around fast.
The first-round leader at the LPGA State Farm Classic watched her lead disappear almost as soon as she stepped on the course Friday.
Then came her opportunity to regroup -- a 25-minute rain delay. Kung went on to birdie six holes, including the final two, in shooting a 4-under 68 and extending her lead to four strokes at the Rail Golf Course.
"I just kept playing," said Kung, who bogeyed her first two holes. "I wasn't hitting the ball as well as yesterday, but I kept playing. I told myself, 'There's still a lot of golf to be played for this tournament.' And it all came around for the last few holes."
Kung, looking for her second win in as many weeks in just her second season on tour, is used to sluggish starts.
She had four bogeys on her first seven holes in the final round of last week's Wachovia Classic, but eventually won by two strokes. In Thursday's opening round, she started admittedly "sleepy" but blazed to an 8-under 64 under hot, dry conditions.
"Hopefully everything will be back in shape for tomorrow and Sunday," Kung said with a laugh after cushioning her lead.
Steady rain all morning and into the early afternoon dampened the course and most scores, but some players with morning tee times made strong runs to get back into contention.
Jennifer Rosales shot a 5-under 67, including a 12-foot birdie on her final hole, to move to 9-under for the tournament. That puts her in position for her first tour win at the Rail, where the last six winners were first-time LPGA champions.
Rosales, who was eighth after Thursday's opening round 68, said she enjoys being a stroke or two back so she sneak up on the weekend.
"I'm pretty happy where I am right now," Rosales said. "There are still two more days, and it's anybody's ballgame right now."
Rosales is tied with Hee-Won Han, who shot a 3-under 69, and two accomplished tour veterans are close behind.
Jenna Daniels is third at 8-under after a 68. So is Rosie Jones, who shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 thanks to some clutch putting.
"My putter just started working," Jones said.
Laura Davies used her short game to shoot a 5-under 67. One of the tour's longest hitters off the tee, Davies sank a long birdie putt on her final hole to get to 7-under overall with two others.
Kung's round started with bogeys at the 10th and 11th and a par at 12th -- the long par-5 she eagled the day before.
Play was then delayed after steady rain showers left large puddles on some greens and in bunkers.
Kung got back on track with a birdie on the par-4 13th. She then birdied the 15th and 17th holes and made the turn at 9-under. Kung added four more birdies on the front nine, including on the final two holes.
Players said the rain shouldn't affect play much this weekend, but it was irritating.
"It's no fun for us, it's no fun for the galleries," Davies said. "It tends to take a lot of the enjoyment out of it."
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