Ko up by three strokes at midpoint of Aussie Open

[February 16, 2018]  First-round leader Jin Young Ko expanded her advantage Friday in the second round of the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open in Adelaide.

The South Korean is on top by three shots after she carded a 3-under-par 69 in the second round at Kooyonga Golf Club, leaving her at 10-under 134.

Emma Talley, the 2015 NCAA champion while playing for Alabama, sits in second place at 137. Talley matched Ko with a 69 on Friday.

The second round started slowly for Ko, who made bogey on her second and third holes of the day. She didn't slip up again, though, finishing with five birdies and 10 pars the rest of the war. The surge included a stretch of three consecutive birdies.

"Yes, I like this course style," Ko said, according to Golf Australia. "Korean courses (are) more long ... and narrow and then (I) have to get longer distance and then straight shots, but here is wider, so stress is less."

Ko's Australian caddie, Dean Herden, told Golf Australia, "She is amazing. If you get the right yardage, she just flights the ball well. A lot of the girls flight the ball low and it runs out, but she spins it. We've changed to a Titleist ball, and she gets even more spin now."

Two South Koreans share third place at 138. Sun Young Yoo shot a second-round 70, while Jiyai Shin had a second-round 71.

In solo fifth is Japan's Nasa Hataoka, who posted a 67 on Friday. American Mo Martin (second-round 72) and South Korean Hyejin Choi (71) are tied for sixth at 140. Six players, including defending champion Ha Na Jang of South Korea, are at 141, tied for eighth.

--Field Level Media

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