Lydia Ko has a good chance for her second win of the LPGA Tour season after another strong round at the BMW Championship in South Korea.
Ko, who is on track to claim her second consecutive Vare Trophy for lowest scoring average on the LPGA Tour and leads the season-long Race to CME Globe, shot a six-under 66 to move into a share of second, just one shot behind rising Thai sensation Atthaya Thitikul.
Thitikul, just 19, can become world No 1 if she wins tomorrow, joining Ko as the only teenagers to accomplish that feat.
However, Ko could be in her way, after a spotless round with six birdies to continue her rise up the leaderboard.
Thitikul carded a five-under round while leader Andrea Lee could only manage a two-under 70 to slip back alongside Ko. Only five other players – including 16-year-old Minsol Kim – are within five shots of Thitikul.
Ko, who has 12 top-10 LPGA finishes this year, says she believes this is her most consistent year yet.
"I feel like this is the most consistent I've played in any of my seasons. Even when I was No 1, I had won more frequently in that season and didn't have as many top 10s or the percentage of top 10s compared to how many events I was playing.
"I'm getting older so I am playing less events than my rookie year or my first few years on tour, but it's definitely nice to be in contention a little bit more frequently, and I think that just boosts the confidence levels.
"From the middle of the season to where it is now, I don't think I've ever gotten too hyped up about it or too down and that's just allowed me to play more freely. That's a good place for me to personally be at.
"That way, even when I'm not playing well, I don't like let that one round affect the whole week or how I approach the next day, and it's kind of a refresh and it's still a learning process for me.
"I'm in a great place in my life off the golf course, as well, so it just kind of all comes together. I'm hoping to finish the season off strong but no matter what happens, I think it's been a fun season and I'm excited for it to end but also excited for next year and what's to come.
Ryan Fox says there's potential for even lower scores in Mallorca. Photo / Photosport
Fellow Kiwi Ryan Fox is poised for yet another strong result on the DP World Tour after recording a seven-under second round at the Mallorca Golf Open in Spain.
Fox sits just one shot behind leader Dale Whitnell, after the Englishman's eight-under round matched the course record.
Fox followed up his opening round three-under 68 with a flawless effort that included five birdies and an eagle. Since bogeying the first hole of the tournament, Fox has yet to drop another shot and even said his round could have been better.
"Everything went really well. I managed my game really well, gave myself lots of birdie chances and left a few on the lip or ran them by the edge of the hole on my back nine," Fox told NZME.
"One bogey is really pleasing, to go bogey-free - I think I holed a 16-footer for par and the rest was pretty comfortable. That's always nice and I thought it was going to be a golf course where scoring would be a little tricky. Thankfully, I've navigated it pretty well for the first couple of days and nice to be in the mix over the weekend."
Maximilian Kieffer, Hugo Leon and Rasmus Hojgaard are all next on the leaderboard, two shots back from Fox, who is looking to maintain his top-three position on the 2022 DP World Tour rankings behind Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
