Charley Hull of England birdied three holes coming home to shoot 3-under-par 70 in windy conditions and was tied for the lead with rookie Megan Khang and Haru Nomura of Japan at the halfway mark of Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classsic at Ocean Club Golf Course in Paradise Island, the Bahamas.
The 19-year-old Hull, who also had a share of the lead after an opening 68, made her only bogey on the breezy day at the sixth hole.
“Yeah, I’ve never played the wind, or the golf course with that wind before,” said Hull, whose only pro victory came in a playoff at the 2014 Lalla Meryem Cup on the Ladies European Tour.
“It was a completely opposite direction. So it was good fun to play in that direction. I like it in that direction actually. No, it was good, just got to keep patient out there. Obviously, the same for everyone. I enjoyed it, I thought it was fun.”
Khang, 18, who finished sixth in LPGA Tour Qualifying School in December, eagled the fourth hole and had four birdies on the back nine in a 68, while Nomura collected six birdies in a 70.
Catriona Matthew of Scotland birdied two of her last three holes for a 71 and was one stroke back in a tie for fourth with Sei Young Kim of South Korea, who totaled 68, Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, who finished at 69 and Min Seo Kwak of South Korea, who came in at 70.
Paula Creamer of Pleasanton, who held a share of the first-round lead, birdied the last hole for a 72 and was another shot behind in a tie for eighth with Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea, who wound up at 70.
Alison Lee of Valencia and UCLA, another of the seven players who were tied after round one, struggled to a 73 and was three shots behind in a tie for 10th with third-ranked Stacy Lewis, who shot 68, and Brittany Lincicome, who finished at 71.
Cristie Kerr recorded the round of the day, a 65, and was another stroke down in a tie for 13th with six others.
Michelle Wie of Stanford, who was stung by a bee in the first round, shot 76-73–149 and missed the cut by one stroke.
