AIG Girls’s Open champion Lydia Ko moved inside a shot of the midway lead on the LPGA Tour’s Kroger Queen Metropolis Championship, as a number of Solheim Cup stars continued to impress.
Ko, making her first begin since main victory at St Andrews, adopted an opening-round 67 with a bogey-free 66 on Friday at TPC River’s Bend to set the preliminary clubhouse goal.
The world No 3, who additionally gained Olympic gold for New Zealand earlier this summer time, took benefit of the par-five sixth and eagled the par-five eighth earlier than three birdies over her last six holes moved her to 11 beneath.
Ko’s goal was later overwhelmed by Jeeno Thitikul, who birdied three of her final 4 holes to publish back-to-back 66s and take a one-shot lead into the weekend, whereas FM Championship winner Haeran Ryu is 2 strokes again in third place.
“I just wanted to make sure that I was giving myself lots of looks for birdies again today,” Ko stated. “I think you see some low scores so you feel like you need to make a bunch of birdies. I know that if I just keep giving myself chances, then at one point it’s going to fall.”
Anna Nordqvist and Albane Valenzuela, among the many 11-strong contingent concerned who additionally competed within the Solheim Cup final week, are each inside 4 of the midway lead after rounds of 65 and 66 respectively, with the world No 1 an extra shot again after a second-round 70.
Nelly Korda is chasing a seventh win of the season on the LPGA Tour
In a single day chief Ashleigh Buhai dropped six again after a one-over 73, with Eire’s Leona Maguire additionally within the group on six beneath following rounds of 67 and 71. England’s Charley Hull – Europe’s high scorer on the Solheim Cup final week – is eight adrift after back-to-back 70s.
Rose Zhang, who went 4-0 final week, was the one Solheim Cup participant to overlook the reduce. She made a late double bogey and by no means recovered, posting a 71 to overlook the weekend by one shot.
Who will win the Kroger Queen Metropolis Championship? Watch all through the weekend reside on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection continues Saturday from 6pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream the DP World Tour, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour and extra with NOW.
