Ko still ahead after two rounds

ORLANDO: Lydia Ko of New Zealand fired a three-under 69 to hold onto a narrow one-shot lead after two rounds at the Gainbridge LPGA in Florida.

Ko, who calls the Lake Nona Golf & Country Club her home course, stands at 10-under 134 and one shot ahead of Nelly Korda (68).

Rounding out the top five are Ryann O-Toole (68) at eight-under, South Korea’s Chun In-gee (68) at nine-under, and South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai (67), Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit (69) and South Korea’s Chella Choi (69), tied at five-under.

“No matter what happens over the weekend, I think it’s good to just keep putting myself in these positions,” Ko said.

It has been nearly three years since the 23-year-old Ko won her 15th and most recent LPGA Tour title at the LPGA Mediheal Championship in April 2018.

Florida native Korda overcame three bogeys with three birdies on her opening nine, but went four-under after the turn to salvage her round and sit solo in second place.

Annika Sorenstam, who shot 75 on Thursday in her first round on the LPGA Tour since the 2008 ADT Championship, got a few tips from her son Will following her round and rebounded on Friday with a 71 and made the cut. Sorenstam finished tied for 67th at two-over.

“So far, she was probably listening to everything that I did, because I was mostly saying how to hit it and where to hit it on the greens,” Sorenstam’s son told Golf Channel following his mum’s round.

Defending champion Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden also stands T-67 after 77-69. — Reuters