Golf: Ko fights back at LPGA Championships

A much better round for Lydia Ko on the second day of the LPGA Championship in New York. Photo / Getty Images.

Lydia Ko has fought back well in the second round of the LPGA Championship in New York to keep alive her record of never missing a cut in a professional event.

The 16-year-old, who opened with a five over par 77 at the Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford to be in a share of 89th, delivered a two under par 70 when she needed it most.

She climbed to a share of 40th to make the cut of the top-70 players and ties by three shots.

It continued Ko's remarkable record in professional events where she has not missed a weekend in the 18 events she has contested since making her debut at the Pegasus New Zealand Women's Open in 2010.

Ko, however, would prefer to be near the top of the leaderboard and will begin the third round nine shots behind American Morgan Pressel, who leads by two strokes from South Koreans Chella Choi and Jiyai Shin at the halfway stage.

As the only amateur player in the field, Ko has already sealed the leading amateur honours _ for the fourth time out of four majors - and will look to get back to around even par on moving day.

The world No 1 amateur got off to a slow start with bogeys on two and three to fall outside the cutline but rallied well making three birdies on the outward nine to make the turn in one under par 34.

Ko held her nerve well on the back nine with two birdies and a bogey coming home to post a 70 and complete a fine comeback under pressure.

The final two rounds will test Ko's fitness tomorrow, given both the third and fourth rounds will be played after the first round was washed out on Friday (NZT).