P - Australian teenager Minjee Lee has shot one of the lowest rounds of the day but sits well off the pace set by Taiwan's Candie Kung at the halfway stage of the LPGA Tour's Canadian Pacific Women's Open.
Following an opening-round 74, Lee improved markedly on Friday in Vancouver, carding a four-under 68 to be tied for 22nd at two-under overall.
However, the Perth youngster is a massive nine strokes back from Kung, who birdied four of her final six holes to match the course record with an 8-under 64.
The 34-year-old four-time LPGA Tour winner was alone at 11-under, two shots clear of New Zealand's two-time champion Lydia Ko and first-round leader Karine Icher of France.
The 18-year-old Ko had a 68, and Icher followed her opening 65 with a 70.
Of the other Australians, Karrie Webb had a horror 76 to miss the cut, as did Katherine Kirk (73), Stacey Keating (72) and Sarah Jane Smith (74).
Sarah Kemp (72) will be the only other Australian alongside Lee in the field for the weekend after signing for a 72 to be even overall and tied for 41st.
Ko won in 2012 at Vancouver Golf Club at 15 years, 4 months to become the LPGA Tour's youngest winner and fifth amateur champion. The New Zealander successfully defended her title in 2013 as an amateur in Edmonton, Alberta. She has two victories this year.
China's Xi Yu Lin was fourth at 8-under after a 66.
Top-ranked Inbee Park, the Women's British Open winner in her last start, was tied for eighth at 4 under after a 69. She has a tour-high four victories this season.
Canadian teen Brooke Henderson, coming off a victory Sunday in the Portland Classic, had a 75 to drop into a tie for 58th at 1 over. The 17-year-old Henderson is the first Canadian to win on the tour since Lorie Kane in 2001.
Michelle Wie missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 75. Struggling with a left ankle injury, she was playing her first tournament since withdrawing during the second round of the Women's British Open after slipping walking off a tee box.
Share
