Suzann Pettersen scoffed at the notion of going over the day’s birdies in her postgame press conference.

"Birdies?" she said incredulously. "Game of pars."

Pars, indeed. If it were "Game of Thrones," and not Round 2 of the LPGA Lotte Championship at Ko Olina Golf Club, Pettersen, of Norway, would be Queen in the North. Her 3-under 69 on Thursday moved her past Ai Miyazato for a one-stroke lead at 10 under heading into today’s third round.

But as on the hit HBO series, conditions can be treacherous, and there’s no guarantee those at the top stay there long. Much stronger wind on Thursday turned it into a survival game — one that the steely Pettersen was apt to play as she carded four birdies against a lone bogey on 10.

"Once you pick your shot, pick your club, it’s go time," the 5-foot-7 Pettersen said. "Playing away from the pin not so much, but playing smart. So when I had a short enough club in my hand I felt like I was aggressive enough. Just accepting that a game of perfect is not the day for that."

To illustrate that, she hit only six of 14 fairways, and still bettered her position considerably. Pettersen, No. 6 in the Rolex Rankings, birdied three of six holes following her bogey right after the turn. That was the only instance she got in any serious trouble.

"It’s one of my strengths. I usually don’t shy away when I get to the back nine," she said. "Feeling good, feeling sharp."

A big 12-foot birdie putt on 13 — it slow-rolled the last few feet and trickled in — moved her back into a tie with Miyazato, who completed her round in the morning.

She used a 4-iron on the par-3 16 to get within about 10 feet, and dropped that one in, too, to become the first in the 2013 field to reach double-digits under par. Miyazato’s 12 under was good enough to win by four strokes last year.

Pettersen finished sixth here in 2012, the event’s debut.

"The closer I get to Asia the better I feel with my game," she said. "I am just really trying to take advantage of being as close to Asia as I can and try to bring it closer toward the mainland."

Pettersen got to keep an eye on one of her chief competitors with Spain’s Beatriz Recari (tied for third) in her group.

"She is a very strong contender," Pettersen said. "I can really see myself being paired with her in the Solheim. She’s a fighter. Very good, solid putter. She’s got the hard work and the ethics to grind it out."

Such accolades have oft been used to describe the fiery Pettersen herself. She’s coming off a third-place finish at the Kraft Nabisco Championship two weeks ago, by far her best result so far this year.

The leaders group of Pettersen, Miyazato and Recari tees off at the No. 1 hole at 10:30 a.m.