Jang sets pace at LPGA season-ending tourney

LPGA rookie Jang Ha-na took advantage of a late wobble by world No 1 Lydia Ko to grab a two-shot lead after the second round of the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in Naples, Florida, on Friday.

South Korean Jang, hunting her first title on the US circuit after finishing second three times this year, birdied four of her first six holes before finishing birdie-birdie for a seven-under-par 65 at Tiburon Golf Club.

That left Jang at 10-under 134, two ahead of New Zealand teenager Ko, who carded a 67 that was highlighted by eight birdies, but damaged by a double-bogey at the par-four 15th and a bogey at the par-three 16th.

Twice major winner Cristie Kerr and fellow American Jennifer Song were a stroke back at seven under after posting matching 69s. For the fifth time in her rookie season, Jang holds the 36-hole lead, but she does not want to look too far ahead.

“In the Marathon Classic, I played a play-off with Chella Choi... I thought too much that I wanted to be champion,” said Jang, who is ranked 15th in the world and is a six-times winner on the Korean LPGA Tour.

“I don’t want to think about being leader.”

Though Ko stumbled over the closing stretch, she maintained her grip in the race with Korean Park In-bee for 2015 LPGA Tour honours as she seeks her sixth victory of the season.

Ko is in pole position to clinch the LPGA Player of the Year award, the money list title and retain her No 1 ranking, while Park has a slight edge in the chase for the coveted Vare Trophy for best scoring average.

“It’s right there,” said Ko, who would clinch The Race to the CME Globe, which carries a $1m bonus, with victory this week, where the winner’s check is for $500 000.

“My trainer and I always say, ‘Hey, better every day.’ It’s what I try and work towards too. If I keep getting better every day, it ends up being a few low scores.”

Ko, who won last year’s CME Group Tour Championship in a three-way play-off to land 2014 LPGA Rookie of the Year honours, shrugged off her double at the 15th, where she hit a tree with her second shot.

“I played a little too cute,” she said. “I should have taken my medicine.”

Park, a winner of two major championships this year, returned a 69 to end the second round six strokes off the pace.

American Austin Ernst, who held a one-shot lead overnight after opening with a 66, triple-bogeyed the parfive first on the way to a roller-coaster 73 and a five-under total of 139.