Ko shares Australian Open lead

MELBOURNE: World No.1 Lydia Ko was in a three-way share of the lead at the halfway stage of the Australian Women’s Golf Open at Royal Melbourne on Friday.
New Zealander Ko was joined at six-under 140 by Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Korean world No.20 Jang Ha-Na after 36 holes.
Jang’s 69 was the only sub-70 round on a day when the weather and the toughening course took their toll on the golfers.
Ko was spectacular in parts, firing an eagle on the par-four 15th by holing out with a nine-iron from 124m.
But the occasional bogey from Ko kept the chasing pack in the mix.
Only once at the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open has Ko held or shared the lead after the first two rounds of an LPGA Tour event and gone on to win.
Jang, a multiple winner in Asia, is already making her mark in her maiden LPGA Tour season, and gave up just two bogeys in Friday’s round.
“I think only very simple thinking, fairway and green and then two putts and that’s it, no more thinking,” Jang explained.
Ariya three-putted the first hole, but ignited her round with a long eagle on the par-five 10th to shoot a 71.
Rising English star 18-year-old Charley Hull was outright fourth at four under 142, two shots behind the leaders.
Overnight leader South Korea’s Lee Il-Hee fired an 82 in her second round to only scrape in one shot inside the five-over-par cut line. Australian veteran Karrie Webb battled to make the cut.