Golf: Lydia Ko loses lead but still in contention at LPGA Mediheal Championship

Lydia Ko. Photo / AP Photo

Lydia Ko has lost the lead but is still in contention at the LPGA Mediheal Championship, after a solid second round.

The Kiwi former world No.1 shot a two-under par 70 at the Californian course to sit three shots behind the leader, American Jessica Korda.

Ko, who won the Swinging Skirts tournament at the same course in 2014 and 2015, carded two bogies and four birdies in her round, but finished strongly with two birdies in her last six holes to remain in touch with the leaders.

It was a mixed performance, with Ko's radar with her irons slightly off – hitting just 11 greens in regulation compared to 16 in the first round, but she putted well, requiring only 26 putts to sign for her two-under round.

The 21-year-old remained positive after her solid day.

"I think I just put myself in good positions," Ko said. "This is a course where you need to drive it well and putt well. Hopefully, I'll continue doing that and just stay patient and stay confident."

Ko has been solid if unspectacular at her last four tournaments, finishing between 19th to 33rd, but the world number 18's title drought stretches back to July 2016.

To snap that streak, she will have to chase down Korda, who shot a five-under 67 to lead at nine-under, one shot ahead of compatriot Annie Park. Park is the surprise package in the field, shooting 66 after having to qualify earlier in the week to make the field.

Ko sits ahead of plenty of big names, with top-ranked Inbee Park sitting at one-under par alongside world number two Shanshan Feng, while third-ranked Lexi Thompson struggled, shooting 75 to drop to even par.

"The golf course is perfect," Park said. "I just wasn't able to hole some putts. This is a tough golf course and it can get really tough when the wind picks up. I just have to make some more putts."

Elsewhere, Danny Lee has missed the cut at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Lee and partner David Lingmerth came up just short in the rare PGA Tour teams event, missing the cut by one shot. The duo ended up ruing a horror start to their second round, sitting at six-over through eight holes, including a disastrous quadruple bogey. They then stormed home with six birdies, but their even-par 72 was only good enough to stay steady at four-under, just outside the cut.

The news was better for Ryan Fox at the China Open. Fox made the cut in a share of 50th place at two-under, but carded a four-under 68 today to shoot up the leaderboard – albeit remaining well off the lead.