South Korean Kim Sei-Young eagled the par-5 15th hole on Friday for a five-under-par 68 and a one-stroke halfway lead over Australian Hall of Famer Karrie Webb in the Women's PGA Championship.
Kim's eight-under total of 138 gave her a one-shot lead over Webb and two-time defending champion Park In-Bee, also of South Korea.
"My goal for this year is to become top five," Kim said through an interpreter, "and if I win a major, I could be one step closer."
Webb, who has won seven majors, birdied the 18th hole to cap a 71 after her opening-round 68. She was joined on 139 by Park, who had five birdies in her five-under 68 at the Westchester Country Club.
The 40-year-old Webb had three birdies and a bogey on the par-3 16th on another steamy day which helped dry the greens. She hit her pitch shot within five feet on the par-5 final hole.
"Nice to finish with a birdie on the last," Webb said. "It was a little bit more difficult today. I think the greens really dried out a little bit. It was still quite challenging to get the ball close to the hole."
Not only is Park trying to win a third straight title in the second women's major of the year - formerly known as the LPGA Championship - she's closing in on the world No.1 ranking of New Zealand teen Lydia Ko.
The 18-year-old missed the cut for the first time in her pro career, struggling to a three-over 76 for a two-over total of 148.
Her demise ends a streak of 53 straight LPGA cuts made.
Ko had a double bogey on No.2 to start her day and finished with four bogeys and three birdies.
"I just made a double and just couldn't get anything turned around," she said.
"I missed a lot of 9-footers. I made two good putts the last two holes; it was already kind of too late."
Norway's Suzann Pettersen and Brooke Henderson of Canada sit one stroke behind Webb and Park, one shot ahead of Stacy Lewis and Jenny Shin.
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