Australian Major winner Minjee Lee carded a solid second round two-under-par 69 to stay firmly in contention at the Hana Financial Group Championship on Friday.
After opening with a flawless 64, Lee battled back from a rough start to post a 69 to sit in a tie for second spot, just one shot adrift the leader Lee So-mi of South Korea, who signed for a 67.
It was a superb effort from Lee as she birdied three of her last five holes at the Adonis Country Club in Pocheon to reach the halfway stage at nine-under-par 133 total.
The Australian had struggled to make headway at the start of the second round after managing just two birdies to offset three bogeys recorded on holes three, 10 and 13.
She said she was still coping with jetlag after flying from the US where she finished joint-second at the NW Arkansas Championship last weekend.
"I was still feeling the effects of jetlag but I tried my best to concentrate until the end. I was able to hit three birdies on the last five holes which allowed me to finish two-under today.
"I wish to play well tomorrow and create more good opportunities.
"It's the tournament of my sponsors so I wish to achieve good results," said the world number seven.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko also roared into contention for her second victory in Korea after firing a blemish-free 65.
Lydia, who won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters in 2013, left it late as she sank six birdies including in her final four holes to get within three shots off the lead.
Her fine effort sent her to an eight-way tie for eighth place that also included the winners of the first two Hana Financial Group Championship editions - Jang Ha-na (2019) and An Na-rin (2020) - at seven-under-par total.
It was a remarkable improvement as Ko surged 30 places from where she started.
"Overall, my shots were pretty good today whereas some putts didn't go in as well as yesterday.
"I missed some opportunities in the first half but I thought I could play better as my shots felt good.
"Starting with the birdie on the 10th hole, I had some difficulties for the 11th and 13th holes but after making par putts there, I made consecutive birdies from there. I'm satisfied with today's performance in general," said Ko.
So-mi continued her brilliant form for the second straight day after adding a 67 to her opening 65 to head into the weekend as the outright leader.
She mixed six birdies, including at the 16th and 18th, with two bogeys to give herself a crack at her third KLPGA title of the season.
So-Mi is one of this season's top performers as she currently sits fourth in the official money list.
"The thought of a third win is quite uncomfortable. In fact I wasn't even prepared to clinch my second win," said So-mi.
"I think winning is determined by luck. The goal is to just have rounds without any regrets.
None of the six "Asian Prospects" managed to advance into to the weekend rounds with Thailand’s Jaravee Boonchant agonisingly missed the top-61 cut.
She carded a 72 to finish at one-over 143, just one stroke shy off the cutline while promising Singaporean amateur Shannon Tan improved on her opening 74 with a 72.
