Ko regains form, ties Thompson for lead

INDIANAPOLIS » Lydia Ko shot an 8-under 64 on Friday to join Lexi Thompson atop the Women in Tech Championship leaderboard with one round left at Brickyard Crossing.

Winless in more than a year, the 20-year-old Ko had five straight birdies in the middle of her final nine before bogeying the par-4 eighth. Thompson followed her first-round 63 with a 66, scrambling for par on the final two holes to match Ko at 15-under 129.

Candie Kung was a stroke back after a 64.

Sandra Gal was tied with Kung at 14 under, then bogeyed the par-3 15th and hit two drives into the water on the par-4 16th en route to a 10. She finished with a 73 to drop eight strokes behind the leaders.

Sutherland, Day share Champions lead in Japan

CHIBA, JAPAN » Kevin Sutherland and Glen Day shot 7-under 65 to share the first-round lead in the Japan Airlines Championship, the first PGA Tour Champions event in Japan.

“The greens are fabulous,” Sutherland said. “It’s not even just good shape, it’s in great shape. So as a result of that, it lends itself to some good scoring.”

Winless on the 50-and-over tour, Sutherland has had at least a share of the first-round lead in three of the last four events.

Hend shoots 2nd-round 63

CRANS-MONTANA, SWITZERLAND » Scott Hend of Australia shot a 7-under 63 to follow his opening 64 and led the European Masters by one stroke after the second round.

Hend had an eagle and five birdies, four from the 14th hole onward, to lead South African Darren Fichardt whose 63 left him alone at 12 under.