Australia’s young superstar Minjee Lee continued to dominate the LPGA tournament in China for the second consecutive day today.
Lee, the 20-year-old who is already one of the best players in the world, followed her opening 65 with a five-under 67 at Hainan Island in the Blue Bay LPGA to take a formidable six-shot shot lead into the weekend.
She is in a great position to record her third LPGA Tour victory, following wins at the Kingsmill Championship in 2015 and the Lotte Championship in April this year.
Lee was world-ranked No. 17 before this tournament, the best of all Australian female players.
The young woman from Perth rolled in birdie putts at the fourth and seventh holes to seize a big advantage, then bombed a long birdie putt at the par-five eighth, and by the time she hit the halfway mark of the round her lead was four shots.
The Western Australian also made some good saves on a second, consecutive great day with the putter, and brilliant birdies in the windy afternoon conditions at the 16th and 17th sealed her position at the top of the leaderboard.
Lee had just 25 putts on Thursday and only 27 today. "I've been rolling it pretty well yesterday today so hopefully I keep it going,'' she said.
Her nearest competitor is Caroline Masson of Germany at six-under par.
Meanwhile in the PGA Tour’s CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Australia’s Marc Leishman raced through the second round in 65 to move into contention.
Victorian Leishman is at 10-under, four shots from the lead held by Justin Thomas of the United States, the defending champion.
Aaron Baddeley and Adam Scott also made ground on the second day, Baddeley with a 71 and Scott with a 69 that showed a nice return to form.