Golf: Lydia Ko remains in front of field at halfway mark of LPGA Tour opener

Lydia Ko sinks her bogey putt on 18 during the LPGA Gainbridge Championship. Photo / Photosport

Lydia Ko has continued her fine form on her home course to hold a one-shot lead halfway through her opening event on the 2021 LPGA Tour.

Playing in Orlando at the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Ko followed up her opening-round 65 with a solid three-under 69 on Saturday.

That was enough for Ko to hold the solo lead ahead of US golfers Nelly Korda, at nine-under, and Ryann O'Toole in third at eight-under. Both of her closest rivals posted four-under rounds of 68.

However, Ko's lead could easily have been more impressive with her round pairing six birdies with three bogeys. Despite some wayward driving, she was pleased with her performance.

"Overall I thought I played pretty solid. There was a stretch of a few holes where I couldn't really hit any tee shot on the fairways, but I think it was pretty solid and I'm happy to have shot three-under.

"A lot of positive things going into the weekend."

Ko's lengthy drought without a win is inevitably mentioned whenever she is in contention – but that doesn't bother the 23-year-old, as her improved play over the last year has seen her regularly in the mix, something she believes will eventually pay off.

"It's definitely nice to be in contention at the top of leaderboard. No matter what happens over the weekend, it's good to just keep putting myself in these positions. I think you get more comfortable with it and the more times you're there I think the higher chance that at the end it will all happen for you.

"So I'm trying to not think about what may happen. If I'm able to be in contention going into the last few holes, that's great.

"The result needs to be more secondary for me. I just need to be more comfortable and have belief in my own game."