Golf: Ko in contention in Ohio

Lydia Ko is in contention to win for a second time on the LPGA Tour after the 16-year-old carded a superb four-under-par 67 in the second round of the Marathon Classic. Photo / Getty Images.

Lydia Ko is in contention to win for a second time on the LPGA Tour after the 16-year-old carded a superb four-under-par 67 in the second round of the Marathon Classic.

Ko, who is the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history, will begin the third round in a share of fifth, only two shots behind a trio of leaders _ Spain's Beatriz Recari and Americans Alison Walshe and Paula Creamer - who are all on eight-under.

The world No 1 amateur, who also sits 18th on the overall world rankings, has kept alive her streak of never missing a cut in 22 professional tournaments - a record that goes back to her debut in the 2010 New Zealand Women's Open.

While Ko was solid in her opening round, she was spectacular in round two. She made the turn in two-under-par 32 and then added three more birdies coming home to get to a seven-under-par total and within one stroke of the lead only to falter and record a bogey on the last.

Ko has enjoyed a phenomenal season in 2013. She has finished in the top-five on five occasions and in the top-10 on six occasions as she backs up her incredible season in 2012.

The New Zealand Women's Open champion is now in contention to win her second LPGA Tour title after coming close to winning a month ago in Arkansas when she finished fourth.