LOS ANGELES — Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn roared back to form with a superb eight-under-par 64 to claim a three-shot lead at the Canadian Pacific Women's Open Friday.
British Open champion Ariya limped out of the Olympics last week after a knee injury derailed her bid for a medal after she had taken a first-round lead.
But the talented 20-year-old rediscovered her best form in sunny conditions at Calgary's Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club to storm to the top of the leaderboard. The Thai youngster, enjoying a breakthrough season with four victories and nine top 10 finishes, carded eight birdies and no bogeys in a flawless round which left her at 12 under for the tournament.
South Korea's Chella Choi Woon-jung had started the day in sole possession of the lead, completing her weather-disrupted first round to finish with a seven-under-par 65.
But Choi was unable to build on her lead in a rollercoaster second round, notching four birdies and three bogeys to finish with a one-under-par 71, four off the lead.
South Korea's Chun In-gee was three behind Ariya on nine under after a see-saw five-under-par round which included an eagle, six birdies and three bogeys.
Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow — who lit up the first round with a 66 — was also three back after a second round 69.
Five players finished the second round on eight-under, four adrift of the lead. They included New Zealand's world No. 1 and defending champion Lydia Ko.
Ko appeared to be building a head of steam with four birdies in a row between the ninth and 12th holes to move to nine-under.
But a bogey on the 14th checked her momentum as she finished the day four behind.
Dredge moves 3 ahead
Welshman Bradley Dredge, looking to end a 10-year title drought on the European Tour, played superb golf in tough conditions to move three strokes clear after the second round of the Made in Denmark tournament in Farso Friday.
Dredge followed his opening 63 with a five-under-par 66 on a challenging day of strong winds at Himmerland Golf and Spa Resort to post a 13-under total of 129.
Swede Joakim Lagergren (70) was in second spot, with Belgium's Thomas Pieters (71) and South African Richard Sterne (67) a further shot back at nine-under.
Dredge, a double winner on the European Tour who has not tasted victory since the 2006 European Masters, reeled off five birdies on his front nine to surge to the top of the leaderboard.
Though he ran up his only bogey of the day at the par-four 13th, the 43-year-old rebounded with a birdie at the 14th before parring his last four holes to remain three strokes clear.
Englishman Tom Lewis, joint first-round leader with Lagergren and Pieters after opening with a course record 62, carded a 72 to finish the second round at eight-under, level with Spaniard Adrian Otaegui (66). — Agencies
