New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko is five shots back of the lead at the halfway point of the British Open.
New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko Photo: Photosport NZ
After a four-under par opening round, Ko mixed four birdies with three bogeys for a second round of one-under 71 at the Royal Lythm and St Annes course in Lanchashire on Saturday (NZ time).
It put the two-time major winner tied for eighth at five-under par overall, with leader Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand at 10-under.
Phatlum has fired back-to-back rounds of five-under 67 to hold a one-shot advantage from England's Georgia Hall, Japanese player Mamiko Higa and Australian Minjee Lee, who was the leader after day one.
"My ball striking wasn't as good as yesterday, so I didn't really have that many birdie opportunities," Ko said after her second round.
"But overall I think I was pretty solid and made a few good up and downs ... heading into the weekend I feel like I'm in a pretty solid position."
After opening with a bogey in pleasant morning conditions, Ko made four birdies between holes two and 11 before dense drizzle settled in and birdie chances were limited.
On the tough finishing stretch, she went two-over in the final seven holes to halt her momentum.
"It was a little more challenging because it started raining during the holes coming in and I feel they are some of the toughest holes on the golf course.
"It's the British Open, you're going to get a little bit of drizzle and you just have to manage that."
Meanwhile, New Zealand's Ben Campbell holds a four shot lead after the second round of the Fiji International tournament.
In ideal conditions, Campbell made his way to 11-under par at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course
Only Andrew Dodt made a substantial dent in the New Zealander's buffer over the field, the Queenslander grinding out a two-under 70 to be at seven-under.
- RNZ
