Ko recovers to play on but off pace
Kiwi Lydia Ko has recovered to make the cut at the latest LPGA Tour event, but her world No 1 spot could potentially be in danger.
Ko shot a three- under par 69 to move into a share of 40th during the suspended second round of the LPGA Lotte Championship in Hawaii.
The 19- year- old Kiwi had a bogeyfree round to leap 45 spots on the leaderboard, largely thanks to an improved putting display.
Ko only hit 8/ 14 fairways and just 10 of 18 greens, but only required 25 putts, compared to 29 in her first round.
With only 14 players still to complete their round, Ko is safely inside the cut line, but is seven shots off the lead.
That lead i s held by one of her rivals for the world No 1 ranking, Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn.
Jutanugarn had a bogey- free sixunder 66 to move to nine- under for the tournament, sharing the lead with the Korean duo of In- Kyung Kim and Su- Yeon Jang.
Jutanugarn won five times last season and was the LPGA Tour's player of the year, and can continue to cut into Ko's lead on top of the world rankings if she wins this weekend.
Likewise, world No 2 So Yeon Ryu is also a shot at snaring the top spot, and sits just two shots off the lead in a share of eighth place.
Ko has been world No 1 for 76 weeks, but has had a large lead slowly chipped away by the chasing duo.
However, her lead is still sizeable enough that Jutanugarn and Ryu would require a win, while having Ko finish poorly, to end her reign atop the rankings.
Fellow Kiwi golfer Danny Lee has started strongly on the PGA Tour at the RBC Heritage event.
Lee shot a five- under par to sit in a share of fifth, three shots off the lead held by American Bud Cauley.
Lee has yet to record a top 15 finish in 2017.
“My putting was falling nicely all day,” said Lee. “It’s a very tricky course, but it was perfect conditions for scoring.”