Lydia Ko has safely secured a place in the second half of the richest tournament in women's golf after posting a solid round on day two of the US Open.
Coming off a disappointing opening round in which she struggled to a one-over 72, Ko was far more steady onSaturday with just a single blemish on a scorecard stacked with 14 pars.
A bogey on the fourth hole was balanced by three birdies - two in her final four holes - to leave the world No 3 in a tie for 21st at one-under par.
However, she has plenty of work to do over her final two rounds if she wants to compete for the $2.77m first-place prize.
Ko sits eight shots behind leaders Minjee Lee of Australia and Mina Harigae of the United States. Lee shot a five-under 66, and Harigae had a 69.
Lydia Ko made three birdies in her second round at Southern Pines. Photo / AP
Three-time major champion Anna Nordqvist and Hye-Jin Choi, who shot a 64 to come within shot of matching the lowest round in the event's 77-year history, were seven-under. Nordqvist had a 68.
World No 1 Jin Young Ko was tied for fifth at six-under with Swedish amateur Ingrid Lindblad. Ko shot 67, and Lindblad followed up her event amateur-record 65 on Friday with a 71.
Ko hasn't won a major since 2019, but won five LPGA Tour events last year and already has a win this year.
Nelly Korda, the No 2 player in the world, was six shots off the pace after a 69. She's playing in her first tournament since undergoing surgery on her left arm to fix a blood clot.
It looked for a while like Harigae might maintain sole possession of the lead for a second straight day.
But Lee, ranked No 4 in the world, surged into a tie in the afternoon after shooting 31 on the front nine. Lee has already won two LPGA events this year.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Kiwi Julianne Alvarez - playing in her first major championship - missed the cut after a disastrous second round 10-over par that left her at 13-over for the tournament in a tie for 141st place.
Among the other notables who won't be playing on the weekend are 10-time major champion Annika Sorenstam and 2014 champion Michelle Wie West.
On the PGA Tour, Kiwi Danny Lee missed the cut at the Memorial tournament with rounds of 73 and 74 seeing him end at three-over, one shot shy of making the weekend. Australian world No 3 Cameron Smith leads at eight-under by a shot over Denny McCarthy and KH Lee.
