A pair of 8-under 64s from Lydia Ko and Candie Kung propelled them to the top two spots on the leader board midway through Friday’s second round of the Indy Women in Tech Championship presented by Guggenheim.
Starting on the ninth hole, Ko drained nine birdies, including five straight on holes 2-6, and found 17 of 18 greens on Friday. Her only missed green, coming at No. 8, led to her only bogey in two rounds at the Pete Dye-designed Brickyard Crossing Golf Course.
“I've just enjoyed kind of being in this position and being able to hit some good shots and give myself good looks at birdie,” said Ko. “When you start doing that, it just builds your confidence.”
That boost is a welcome perk for Ko, who has not had a season to remember in 2017. The former World No. 1 has not won since the 2016 Marathon Classic presented by Owens Corning and O-I, and she hasn’t seen the top 10 since mid-June.
“I felt like there were a lot of positives and a lot of good things going on but I just couldn't put it all together,” said Ko. “This week, the last couple days I've been able to hit it pretty good and make some good putts and that's what I've kind of been lacking the last few months.”
Like Ko, Kung came to Brickyard Crossing and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway searching for her season breakthrough. The 16-year LPGA veteran made seven birdies to only one bogey on Friday. Combine that with the confidence she pulls from a T9 finish at last week’s Cambia Portland Classic presented by JTBC, and Kung is in prime position for a Saturday push.
“I've been playing pretty good golf this year but I just haven't been able to put them all together,” said Kung, who has four LPGA victories, the last coming at the 2008 Hana Bank-KOLON Championship. “Being able to put them together last week, four rounds, and then the last two rounds, it feels pretty good.”
Cristie Kerr reached the clubhouse in solo third at 10-under 134, followed by a trio at 9-under 135 –Marissa Steen, 2017 LPGA rookie Olafia Kristinsdottir and Moriya Jutanugarn.
First-round leader Lexi Thompson, who returned 11 birdies on Thursday (the 13th time in LPGA history that feat has been achieved), is among the players in Friday’s afternoon wave.
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