An impressive six birdies in a blemish-free second round has rocketed Australia's Minjee Lee up the leaderboard at the LPGA Classic in Cambridge.
The world No.16's six-under-par 66 on Friday has her poised in joint seventh position, just two shots behind leaders Lexi Thompson, Alena Sharp and Hyo Joo Kim, after starting the day four strokes off the pace in joint 15th spot.
Canadian Sharp called a penalty on herself but still managed to grab a share of the halfway lead.
Lee went on a birdie-blitz on 13th, 14th and 15th to add to those on the second, ninth and 11th holes at the Whistle Bear Golf Club.
She sits in a group with Bronte Law and Shanshan Feng, who are all one stroke behind Perrine Delacour, Lindy Duncan and In Gee Chun.
News that makes sense
Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.
France's Delacour shot the round of the day, a 10-under-par 62, that included 10 birdies.
Australia's Sarah Jane Smith, who was tied with Lee after the first round, shot a one-under-par 71 to go with her 68. She is now in a tie for 36th, seven off the leading group.
Compatriots Sarah Kemp (one over) and Wendy Doolan (eight over) missed the cut.
Suzann Pettersen of Norway had a 71 to move to nine under while fellow first-round co-leader Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea remained at eight under with a 72.
Sharp said the infraction happened after her ball had stopped in short grass, hard up against a collar of rough next to the third green at Whistle Bear.
"When I addressed my chip shot the ball moved," she told reporters. "I don't think I completely grounded my club, but the way the rule reads, I was going to ground my club and the ball moved.
"I needed to call it on myself because I was going to be thinking about it all day. Two dimples, but it moved. I'm totally all about the rules and etiquette and I just would never not call it on myself when the ball moves like that."
