Alena Sharp on Friday shot her second straight 66 to move into a share of the lead at 12-under 132 after the second round of the Manulife LPGA Classic.
Sharp, from nearby Hamilton, was tied with the US’ Lexi Thompson (65) and South Korea’s Kim Hyo-joo (68).
Perrine Delacour (62) of France, the US’ Lindy Duncan (65) and South Korea’s Chun In-gee (66) were one shot back.
Photo: The Canadian Press via AP
Feng Shanshan of China had a 69 to move to 10-under, in a tie with Britain’s Bronte Law (65) and Australia’s Minjee Lee (66).
Sharp had a penalty stroke and a double-bogey on the third hole at Whistle Bear Golf Club, and then came back with an eagle on the par-five ninth and had a run of three straight birdies on the back nine.
“This week has been different,” Sharp said. “I just walked up to the golf course yesterday and today just feeling like it was going to be a good day.”
“Just had these good vibes coming out,” she added.
A headache that came on at the 11th hole before her run of birdies had gone away by the time Sharp signed her scorecard.
Her third-hole misery did not last long either.
Sharp said her ball moved ever so slightly as she went to address a chip shot. While she did not feel she had grounded her club, she conferred with a rules official and took a one-shot penalty.
“I needed to call it on myself, because I was going to be thinking about it all day,” Sharp said. “I thought I did the right thing. Went out and birdied the next hole and really just forgot about it.”
“Just kept playing the way I was,” she added.
Suzann Pettersen of Norway had a 71 to move to nine-under, while fellow first-round coleader Lee Mi-hyang of South Korea remained at eight-under with a 72.
Delacour had the lowest score at the tournament since it moved to Cambridge in 2015.
South Korea’s Inbee Park (2014) and Park Hee-young (2013) share the tournament low of 10-under-par 61. Both scores were recorded at the Grey Silo Golf Course in nearby Waterloo, Ontario.
Conditions were warm and breezy and preferred lies were in effect for the second straight day.
Brooke Henderson was six shots back after a 67, one behind fellow Canadian Brittany Marchand — the Symetra Tour player who made her first LPGA Tour cut after a 70 put her at 137.
Henderson, seeking her first tour victory this season after just two top-10 finishes in 13 events, started a run of four straight birdies on the ninth hole and played bogey-free the rest of the way.
“I played really well yesterday, I hit a lot great shots, I just didn’t make any putts and my energy kind of dropped a little bit,” said Henderson, who had a 71 in the opening round. “Today I was able to get a few tap-in birdies that were only at three or four feet and that gave me a lot of confidence.
Sharing 24th with Henderson was Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung of the US, who carded a four-under 68.
Taiwan’s Cheng Ssu-chia was tied for 141th after carding a five-over 77 for the round and was projected to miss the cut.
Additional reporting by staff writer
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Forget Real Madrid, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain, the world’s best soccer team — statistically speaking — might be a little-known outfit from the closed central Asian nation of Turkmenistan. Founded last year, Arkadag, named in honor of former Turkmen president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow, have been unstoppable, notching up 36 consecutive domestic victories in a run still ongoing. The side have not lost a single competitive match and swept to a league and cup double in their inaugural season — success unthinkable almost anywhere else. However, in Turkmenistan, it could hardly have gone any other way. The energy-rich country is one of the most closed
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping