Ko matches course record with 62, shares NW Arkansas lead

Washington-Ayako Uehara tied the tournament scoring record by carding a bogey-free nine-under 62 for a two shot lead after the opening round of the USLPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship on Friday.

Ko said she was enjoying revisiting the Pinnacle Country Club, and had felt confident going into the three-round tournament.

The world No. 1 carded a three-under 68 for a tournament-record total of 17-under 196 in the 54-hole event at Pinnacle Country Club, three shots clear of Taiwan’s Candie Kung (69) and American Morgan Pressel (71).

It’s the lowest nine hole score this season and Ko’s nine-under 62 equals the tournament record.

Yan took advantage of playing in the semi-cooler conditions in the morning compared with those she faced on Thursday afternoon, picking up five birdies and an eagle, with one dropped shot on the back nine, to take the lead early in round two.

The New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has stormed into a tie for the lead after the second round of the latest LPGA event in Arkansas.

The reigning LPGA Tour Player of the Year has finished no lower than 23rd this year and had finished in the top 10 in eight of her 12 tournaments.

This month, Ko became the youngest and fastest women’s player to surpass $US6 million in career earnings.

Pressel, 28, birdied five of her final eight holes, including a tap-in birdie at the 18th. “Try to give yourself good looks and birdies”.

She hit a further two birdies and a bogey to reach 19 under by the 10th before two more bogeys on the home stretch, including one on the 18th after finding the water.

Mika Miyazato, also from Okinawa, said, “I’ve come second and third here before”. Pressel is a two-time victor on Tour, her last victory coming in Hawaii in 2008.

Gal is off to her best start of 2016, opening with back-to-back sub-70 rounds for the first time this season.

“I’ve played well here the past few years and had the opportunity to play here as an amateur”, Ko told Golf Channel. She began the round six strokes behind Jing Yan, who had the first tee time of the day and shot her second consecutive 6-under 65. “(Thursday) was a great round and after a great round usually it’s hard to follow it. I’m really proud of myself”. Her best finish is a third place at the 2012 Japan Classic.

Defending champion Na Yeon Choi had a 75.