World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand stumbled late to leave South Korea’s Jang Ha-na atop the leaderboard after Friday’s second round of the LPGA Tour Championship.
The 18-year-old Kiwi star, coming off her first major title earlier this year in France, is battling South Korea’s second-ranked Inbee Park for a host of awards in this season-ending showdown, including Player of the Year honors as well as season money, point crowns and the top ranking.
Jang, a 23-year-old rookie seeking her first LPGA title after three runner-up efforts this year, fired a seven-under-par 65 to finish 36 holes on 10-under 134 with Ko next on 136 after a 67. Jang birdied four of the first six holes and two of the first three on the back nine.
Photo: AFP
Ko had six birdies in her first 11 holes and was level with Jang until a double bogey at 15. Both players made bogeys at the par-three 16th and birdied 17 and 18 to keep Jang ahead by two.
“The lucky thing for me is that 17 is a birdie-able hole if you hit some good shots and I took advantage of that,” Ko said. “I miss-hit my second shot on 18, but I got lucky and just said, ‘Put a confident stroke on it.’ It’s not the greatest thing to make a double and a bogey during the end of your round, but to finish strong, I think that definitely helps going into the weekend. I know she’s going to make a lot of putts. I’m going to put a lot of focus on my own game and do the best I can.”
Americans Cristie Kerr and Jennifer Song shared third on 137 after each firing 69. Another stroke back were France’s Karine Icher and Americans Brittany Lincicome and Gerina Piller.
Photo: AFP
Japan’s Ai Miyazato, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, South Korean Kim Sei-young and Americans Lexi Thompson and Austin Ernst shared eighth on 139.
Park, coming off a win last week in Mexico, fired a 69 with six birdies and three bogeys — the last on 18 — to share 13th on 140.
“I played good on the par-fives today, birdied every par-five, just haven’t played that well on the other holes,” Park said. “Made too many bogeys today, especially the three-putt on the last didn’t really help.”
Photo: AFP
Park, who won this year’s Women’s British Open and Women’s PGA Championship, must finish at least 12th to have a chance of dethroning Ko as No. 1, but would need to win to do it if the teen remains among the front-runners.
Taiwan’s Candie Kung and Hsu Wei-ling both shot a round of 71 for 144 and 145 respectively, while Min Lee and Yani Tseng both shot a round of 74 for 145 and 148 respectively.
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