MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — U.S. Women’s Open champion So Yeon Ryu shot a 4-under 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over fellow South Korean player Hee Kyung Seo after the second round of the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Women’s Australian Open.
Ryu, a playoff winner over Hee in July at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., had a 6-under 140 total at Royal Melbourne, the 2011 Presidents Cup venue that is hosting a women’s professional event for the first time.
Hee shot a 66, the best score in the first two days of the tournament also sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf and the Ladies European Tour.
American Stacy Lewis, the Kraft Nabisco winner, birdied Nos. 12 and 13 to take the lead at 7 under, but followed with a triple bogey-7 on No. 14 and bogeys on Nos. 15 and 16. She eagled the par-5 17th and closed with a par for a 73 to finish at 4 under.
American Jessica Korda, England’s Melissa Reid and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada also were 4 under.
