Ryu Stretches Lead in Canadian Women's Open


So Yeon Ryu followed up her opening 9-under 63 - a new course record - with a 66 to increase her lead in the Canadian Women's Open from one stroke to five.

After posting nine birdies Thursday at London Hunt and Country Club in Ontario, the 24-year-old South Korean added six more on Friday to reach 15-under 129. Ryu has yet to drop a shot in the 72-hole, $2.25 million LPGA Tour event.

She's certainly pleased with her performance so far. "A lot of birdies is still a good sign, but no bogeys is more [of] a great sign because it means I play really consistent and when I was in trouble I handled it pretty well," Ryu said. "That's my goal. I am for the bogey-free round all four days."

Sharing second at 10-under are American Danielle Kang (68), Sweden's Anna Nordqvist (69) and Korea's Na Yeon Choi (70).

Six behind are Cristie Kerr (68), while seven back are Americans Brittany Lincicome (65) and Lizette Salas (66), Korea's Mi Hyang Lee (69), Australian Lindsey Wright (69) and China's Xi Yu Lin (70).

Inbee Park began the second round just three strokes behind countrywoman Ryu. But the No. 2-ranked player in the world could only muster one birdie for a 71 and is at 7-under with seven other players.

No. 1-ranked Stacy Lewis had a 68 to get to 5-under, the same total as two-time defending champion Lydia Ko, who's carded rounds of 70 and 69.

Canadian amateur Brooke Henderson has shot 70 and 71 to get to 3-under. "I played pretty well today," said Henderson, who lost in the 36-hole championship match to Texan Kristen Gillman at the U.S. Women's Amateur two weeks ago in New York. "I left a lot of opportunities out there and missed a lot of birdies, but that's OK."

The 36-hole cut was set at 1-under 143.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.