WORLD NUMBER one Ko Jin-young fired eight birdies in a seven-under-par 64 on Friday to grab a share of the second-round lead alongside Japan’s Nasa Hataoka in the LPGA’s Los Angeles Open, while it was a frustrating day for Irish pair Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow.
Ko, aiming to bounce back from a disappointing finish in the first major of the year at Rancho Mirage two weeks ago, reeled off four birdies in a row from the 11th through the 14th at Wilshire Country Club to power up the leaderboard.
She shot a seven-under 135, tied with Hataoka, whose three-under 67 included birdies on her last three holes.
“My putting was so good today,” Ko said. “I wasn’t expecting to play really well today, because in the afternoon it’s always hard to play this course. But my putting was good, so I’m happy with it.”
Ko, who added her fifth back-nine birdie on the 17th, said she didn’t even realise she’d played the back nine in five-under.
“I didn’t know that, I was in the zone,” she said.
The 26-year-old South Korean, who won five times last year and added her 13th LPGA title in Singapore last month, is coming off a disappointing share of 53rd at the Chevron Championship.
“I have two more rounds and nobody knows how it goes,” she said. “So (I’m) working hard and focusing on it and go get it.”
Hataoka, chasing her sixth LPGA title, said the breezy weather again made things tricky.
“The wind was pretty strong,” she said. “The greens are pretty tight, narrow. So my plan was to hit the green, not try to be too aggressive.
“On the back nine, the wind kind of got weaker, so I was able to hit at the pin.”
Australia’s Hannah Green was two strokes back after a 67 for five-under 137.
Fellow Australian Minjee Lee carded a 68 for a share of fourth on 138 alongside South Korea’s Kang Hae-ji, who posted a 69.
Overnight leader Alison Lee carded a three-over 74 that dropped her into a tie for 10th.
18 players were still on the course when darkness halted play. They will complete their rounds on Saturday.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Canada was in danger of missing the cut after following her first-round 76 with a one-over par 72.
Cavan native Maguire is tied for 77th on +4, with a projected cut line on +3, after registering a 73 on Friday.
Antrim’s Meadow, who posted a 72 for the day, is a further three shots behind after ending her round on +7.
You can view the leaderboard in full here.
I’m always hearing about this guy ranting on the court. I’ve come to the conclusion that I think he may have some serious mental health problems, and needs to get some help.
@The Upside-down Triangle: could be just a tool
@Adam Newman: bit of both I think.
W@nker
Waster he is
Was the ball actually out?
To be fair, sometimes you just have to call out a bad hat.
@Richard O’Brien: not while wearing that outfit!
An awful gimp of a chap
He’s correct about the hat. Is he also correct about the out decision?
He may be an awful eejit but he draws some huge crowds and easily one of the most entertaining players on tour, shame he’ll never make the most of his potential
Remember the crowds flocked to McEnroe matches more to witness the rants than his ability
@Noel Lynn: McEnroe on his worst day was never as bad as this headcase. He’s toxic and disruptive and previous disciplinaries have done nothing. He should be kicked off the tour for a season and be made prove himself with a clean record for another couple of years after. No player or official should have to put up with a second of his cr@p.