Golf: Lydia Ko makes cut but double at last hurts chances at Women's Open Championship

Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko. Photosport

A double bogey on the last hole has set Lydia Ko back from a good striking position at the halfway mark on the Women's Open Championship.

Ko sits seven shots back from leader In Gee Chun after firing a one-under 70 today at Murfield.

The Kiwi began her round with three straight birdies to move to three-under. A bogey at the 12th saw her move back to two-under but she looked set for a solid round after picking up a fourth birdie at the 17th. Unfortunately a double at the par four 18th undid her good work earlier in the day.

Ko sits in a share of 26th place.

In Gee Chun took the halfway lead after a five-under 66, putting her in position to challenge for a second major title of the year, and fourth overall.

Chun had an 8-under total of 134, putting her one shot ahead of South Africa's Ashleigh Buhai and Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, who both shot 65.

Seven-time major winner Inbee Park, also of South Korea, was a shot further back after a 67.

Chun, who won the Women's PGA Championship at Congressional in June despite consecutive weekend rounds of 75, carded six birdies and a solitary bogey in her round at Muirfield.

Sunday's winner will earn more than US$1 million but Chun said she was also motivated by a slightly smaller cash prize on offer.

"Before the start of the tournament my caddie Dean and I talked about the course and after that we had a little bit of betting," Chun said. "If I make a bogey-free round he's said he's going to buy me dinner and pay me 100 dollars each day. So before each round it's like setting another goal. That mindset helped a lot on the course. I had two bogeys over the last two days but I want to keep trying to make a bogey-free round."

Of Chun's four LPGA Tour victories, three have come at majors, including the 2016 Evian Championship and 2015 U.S. Women's Open.

On Friday, she even got some help from one of the gusts of wind that make Scottish links golf so tricky.

"I have a great reason to love the Scottish wind now," Chun said. "My ball was around the edge of the hole today, and after like three seconds it dropped. So now I can enjoy more the Scottish wind."

Buhai looked on course to claim the halfway lead when she made an eagle and four birdies to race to the turn in 30, but after picking up another shot on the 11th she could not make any further gains and dropped her only shot of the day on the last.

Overnight leader Hinako Shibuno followed her opening 65 with a 73 to fall four shots off the pace.

Jessica Korda, who was second after the first round, settled for a 74 and was in a tie for 17th.

Four-time major winner Laura Davies, making her 42nd appearance at the event at the age of 58, missed the cut after an 81 which included a 10 on the 18th.

- with AP