Kung shoots to two-stroke lead in Vancouver

Neither landed a knockout punch.

Koe, of New Zealand, shot a 3-under 69.

This is Ko’s best chance for a tournament victory in a season, by her standards, has been a drought. “Just have fun out there tomorrow”.

She has four LPGA Tour victories, winning three times in 2003 and once in 2008.

Top-ranked Inbee Park, the Women’s British Open victor in her last start, had a 71.

“I have not looked at the leaderboard”, shrugged Kung, who finished second at the 2009 U.S. Women’s Open.

“I’m actually feeling quite comfortable where I am right now”.

The US$2.25-million tournament is being held at the Vancouver Golf Club.

“You could definitely tell from the quick turnaround we had last night, she was pretty exhausted from last week”, said Lewis. “Things just seemed to click a little better today”. I am hitting it good, putting it good.”Kung, a 34-year-old native of Taiwan who has called Texas home for several years, is a four-time LPGA Tour victor”. She recovered by birdying the fourth, but then gave it right back on the fifth.

“It’s my first hole-in-one in a tournament”. The 20-year-old Tour rookie carded seven birdies for a 66.

“I don’t know if it’s the golf course necessarily, but I just played better than I’ve been playing lately”, Lewis said. “Not expect too much and not get ahead of myself”.

Prior to her recent decision to turn pro, Marchand graduated from NC State, where she played for the Wolfpack’s female golf team on the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tour on a scholarship.

Her goal this time around – Marchand opened with a six over par round of 78 on Thursday – was to put herself in a position to be playing in rounds three and four later on Saturday and Sunday. “I played really smart with that chip and was happy to make that putt”. I found the pins were pretty tough. Other than that it could have been good. “I played solid all day”.

The win in Portland moved Henderson to No. 17 in the world rankings and boosted her earnings over US$660,000.

Brooke Henderson, of Smiths Falls, Ont., had five bogeys, including a pair back-to-back, to shot a 75, leaving her at 1 over. A sizeable crowd – early risers it would seem – cheered her every step of the way and when she rolled in a 12-footer for birdie on 18 to finish 72, they erupted with a cheer worthy of a Sunday victor.

Hi Jung Hur, of South Korea, was in contention until a bogey on the 15th hole and a double bogey on 18.

Although she was playing late in the day, Ko was followed by a large gallery, which let out a big roar when she drained that birdie putt on the 18th green.