Ko closes in but Ji still leads in Taiwan

Published 10/23/2015, 6:49 AM EDT

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(Reuters) – World number two Lydia Ko stormed into contention at the LPGA Taiwan Championship after firing a second round five-under-par 67 on Friday but South Korean Ji Eun-hee remained out in front.

Ji, the overnight leader, carded an eventful second round 69 for a nine-under 135 halfway total at the $2 million event, one clear of the 18-year-old New Zealander Ko.

Ji, who won the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open, opened her second round with back-to-back birdies only to give both shots back with a double bogey seven at the sixth after sending her tee shot into the woods.

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She recovered, though, and reeled off three straight birdie threes from the ninth to sit one clear of Ko, the youngest woman to win a golf major.

Ko had begun the day three back of Ji but had picked up five shots in her first 12 holes on Friday to grab a share of the lead before mixing two bogeys with two more birdies to allow the South Korean to edge ahead.

England’s Charley Hull carded a 69 to sit in tied third on seven-under with China’s Lin Xi Yu (70).

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, who was accused of showing a lack of sportsmanship at the Solheim Cup last month, shot a best of the day 66 to sit tied seventh on four-under.

(Writing by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; editing by Sudipto Ganguly)

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