DORSET'S Georgia Hall shot the round of her career at the Cambia Portland Classic and holds a three-shot lead after two rounds.

Hall, who last month won the Women’s British Open, fired a nine-under-par 63 which included five straight birdies on the back nine between holes 12 and 16.

A rookie on the LPGA this year, Wimborne-based Hall finished tied for 28th at the CP Women’s Open last week after battling a cold and jet lag.

She told the LPGA website: “It was a really long flight. I hadn't had one in two months, like a really long one.

"I know that sounds a bit silly, but I had a bad cold and the weather didn't help because it's freezing in the morning, as well,” said Hall about the Canadian weather during last week’s CP Women’s Open. “I think I'm back to normal now, so it's nice.”

Hall said the key to her round was her putting. She took just 23 putts on Friday after hitting 14 out of 18 greens in regulation. 

“I holed some really long ones and my long game was pretty good today, and I didn't really miss a green,” she said.

“I'm extremely happy and I stayed in there and kept trying to get more birdies, so I was happy with that.”

At one point, Hall was 10 shots ahead of her playing partners. She admitted it was “a bit strange” to see that but said she just wanted to keep going.

“I wanted to get as far ahead of the others as I could. That's what I kept thinking,” she said. “I just wanted to increase the distance apart.”

Hall leads Minjee Lee – already a winner this year – by three shots. Her 36-hole score of 129 is the lowest in tournament history.

Her 129 is also the best 36-hole score of her career. She has shot 135 on three other occasions, most recently at the British Open. 

Hall’s previous best-career LPGA Tour round was a 66. She said her caddie told her it was a “little scary” to watch her play.

“After about the seventh or eighth (birdie) went in, he was like, ‘oh, God, you're scaring me, what's going on?’ I don't know if that's a good or bad thing,” said Hall.

“But I just kept in my own bubble and just kept focusing on the putts, and they were dropping.” 

Hall added: "I love this golf course. It's very nice to play. It's in great condition, so I look forward to the weekend and seeing what I can do.” 

She followed up her birdie-laden 66 in the first round.

Since turning pro in July 2014, Hall, the 2013 British Amateur champion, has won more than £1million in prize money.

The total prize pot for the Portland Classic stands at little more than £1million.