Australia's teenage golf star Minjee Lee has braved the rain and windy conditions to rocket up the leaderboard during the second round of the women's Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in California.
The 19-year-old, who was tied 59th overnight, shot a blistering second round seven-under-par 65 to move to joint second on Friday.
With three birdies on the turn, she stormed home with four birdies to improve on Thursday's first round by eight shots.
She is now six under for the tournament, three behind Japan's Haru Nomura, and equal second with Choi Na Yeon and Ryu So Yeon.
"I just took advantage of the opportunities that I had," said world No.12 Lee. "I had a couple of wedges into some of the par fours on the back nine which was my front nine, I had like three birdie chances that were five-six feet because I hit wedges in.
"I just stayed patient and if I made a mistake I tried to make up and downs like I did today. I just chipped and putted well."
Lee won the Lotte Championship last week and said the victory gave her lot of confidence and momentum coming into this tournament.
"Yesterday I finished badly but other than that I was playing pretty well, I was two-under before then so I was a little disappointed how I finished.
"I think I had it in me just haven't really brought it every week.
"It's more momentum. Every golfer has that sort of confidence that they can play out here because we are playing with the best in the world, it's just momentum and timing."
Australia's Su Oh shot a second round one-under par 71 to be three under for the tournament, six behind Nomura.
Katherine Kirk is tied for 30th, after shooting two-over par to be level par for the tournament.
After her fine start on Thursday, world No.1 and overnight leader Lydia Ko is tied fifth at five under for the tournament.
