The American and South Korean topped the leaderboard at five-under for 139 as they head into the weekend at the 1.3-million-dollar tournament, the second tournament of the USLPGA season.

Ochoa's hopes of reclaiming the title she won two years ago appeared remote as the Mexican made four bogeys and carded a seven-over for a three-over total of 147, leaving her tied at 39th position with five others.

Stanford, ranked number ten in the world, made four birdies but dropped shots on the back nine with three bogeys.

"I felt like I played the front nine really well and the back nine not so well," said Stanford. "So I don't know. I just made a couple of bad decisions and 14 (14th hole) is hard." Kim, who shares the lead with Stanford going into the third round, was two-under for the day as she fired a 70.

She made four birdies at the Tanah Merah Country Club course but bogeyed the 12th and 17th hole.

"Overall, I didn't make many mistakes today and putting-wise, also good," Kim, ranked 14th in the world, said through a translator.

Kim said she was not looking too far ahead despite being joint-leader with two more rounds to go.

"It's just the second round. So nobody can expect the result and everybody is very close right now," she said.

Defending champion Shin Ji-Yai was three shots behind the leaders, with a one-under par score taking the world number two's total to a two-under 142.

"I think I still have a chance to win because I think last year (there was a bigger gap at the top of the leaderboard)," the South Korean champion said.

"I finished at two-under and I made lots of birdies today... six birdies was the main point for me today," she said.

Japan's Ai Miyazato put in another round of solid performance to put herself in contention, sharing third place with four others including American Juli Inkster and Norway's Suzann Pettersen, the world number three.

Miyazato, who won the season opener in Thailand last week, posted a 71 for a four-under total of 140.