Australian golf stars Hannah Green and Minjee Lee are both within striking distance of the LA Open co-leaders after the second round at Wilshire Country Club.
Australian Hannah Green has held the second-round clubhouse lead at the LPGA Tour's LA Open before world No.1 Jin Young Ko vaulted above her with five back-nine birdies.
Green carded a bogey-free 4-under 67 to get to 5-under on Friday at the demanding Wilshire Country Club, with countrywoman Minjee Lee just one shot back after a 3-under 68.
However, South Korean world No.1 Ko stormed home with the round of the day, a 64, to be joint leader at the half-way mark at 7-under with world No.12 Nasa Hataoka of Japan.
Hataoka, who started her day on the 10th, birdied her final three holes for a 68.
Major champion Green, who won her two LPGA Tour titles in 2019, was pleased with her round that has her just two shots off the pace in third place.
"I'm very pleased," Green said.
"I guess today's round kind of felt like even more under par than what it was.
"I was pretty solid with my putting all day today which was nice because yesterday I had a couple three-putts."
Green said that a little time off earlier this week had benefited her game.
"I feel like I really needed just a mental break, especially after Hawaii trying to stay patient in that wind, so I'm glad with that decision," she told Golf Australia.
Lee, the 2019 LA Open winner who broke through to win a major last July, had five birdies and two bogeys to be well placed going into the weekend.
"It's definitely a grind-out golf course if you know what I mean," she told Golf Australia.
"There's definitely a lot of birdie opportunities but a lot of easy bogey opportunities, as well, if you just get in a slightly wrong spot."
Lee and Haeji Kang (69) share fourth while a quarter of players are at 3-under in a tie for sixth, including Inbee Park (67).
with AP
