Field Level Media
14 May 2022, 05:35 GMT+10
Minjee Lee of Australia went low with a 9-under 63 Friday to take the 36-hole lead at the Cognizant Founders Cup in Clifton, N.J.
Lee's round featured eight birdies, an eagle and just one bogey. It helped her build a three-shot advantage over Ally Ewing, Lexi Thompson and Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, who enter the weekend tied for second at 11 under.
Lee holed a lengthy putt to eagle the par-5 12th at Upper Montclair Country Club. She was on track for a career-low 62 before her lone bogey at No. 16 brought her back a shot.
"I go pretty much shot by shot and not get too far ahead of myself," Lee said. "When I had a putt I tried to hole it. When I had a shot I tried to hit it close."
Lee is searching for her first win on the LPGA Tour since the Evian Championship -- her first major title -- last July.
Sagstrom led after the first round thanks to her own 63 Thursday, but starting on the back nine Friday, she was 2 over par for her round through five holes. She recovered with a birdie at No. 18 and three more on the front to shoot a 2-under 70.
"I was talking to (caddie Shane Codd) and I think I was trying a bit too hard," Sagstrom said. "Trying to find the same momentum I had yesterday and it just wasn't there, so I think I kind of just had to calm myself down."
Thompson shot a bogey-free 66, and Ewing matched the 66 with seven birdies and just one bogey. Thompson was glad to improve her showing on the back nine from a 1-over 37 Thursday to a 3-under 33 Friday.
"My front nine was definitely a little sketchy (Thursday). Wasn't my best ball striking," Thompson said. "Just felt a little bit out of it. But I just tried to scratch that going into the turn. ... Let's just start scratch and let's just fire away at the pins and commit to my shots. That's all I can do."
New Jersey was also the setting for Thompson's last victory on tour -- the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic.
Finland's Sanna Nuutinen shot a 4-under 68 to take sole possession of fifth place at 9 under. Paula Reto of South Africa (67), Carlota Ciganda of Spain (69) and Megan Khang (72) were tied for sixth at 8 under.
Eighty players made the cut of 1 under or better, including defending champion and world No. 1 Jin Young Ko of South Korea (5 under). Sixteen-year-old amateur Anna Davis shot a second straight 70 to make the cut at 4 under, her second made cut in as many starts on tour.
--Field Level MediaGet a daily dose of Australian Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Australian Herald.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Army plans to change the records of transgender soldiers to list only their sex at birth, according to a...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said this week that it will require airlines to reduce the number of flights...
GAZA - The home of a doctor working in the emergency room at the Nasser Medical Complex in southern Gaza was struck by Israel Air...
ORLANDO, Florida: For years, Universal Orlando played second fiddle to Disney's sprawling empire in Central Florida. Now, with the...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Transportation Department is expected to say that fuel economy rules created under President Joe Biden went...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The U.S. Justice Department is investigating Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York and a top candidate for...
Leela found joy in dancing. Megan loved the freedom of ice skating. Ronya was always singing along to pop songs. Cherie's favourite...
SYDNEY, Australia: Australian businesses are feeling optimistic about their prospects in China despite escalating global trade tensions,...
SYDNEY, Australia - A pharmacist has been charged after allegedly defrauding the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) of more than...
(250526) -- MONTE-CARLO, May 26, 2025 (Xinhua) -- First-placed McLaren's driver Lando Norris (L) of Britain stands on the podium with...
Tirumala (Andhra Pradesh) [India], May 25 (ANI): Ahead of the five-match Test series against England, India's fielding coach T Dilip...
New Delhi [India], May 25 (ANI): The members of India A squad led by Abhimanyu Easwaran reached England on Sunday ahead of their matches...