Korda's late birdie spree, with three birdies in the last four holes, propelled her into the lead. She credited her solid driving and the opportunities she created for herself. Korda, ranked fourth in the world, had shared the 18-hole lead with Lydia Ko after an opening round of 65.
South Korean rookie Lee So-mi, in just her seventh tour start, put up a strong fight with a stellar 65 in the second round, securing second place at 134. New Zealand's Lydia Ko, China's Lin Xiyu, and Japan's Ayaka Furue tied for third at 135.
Starting on the back nine, Korda rebounded from an early bogey at the par-3 11th hole with a birdie at the 13th. She continued her charge with birdies at the par-3 15th and par-5 17th, taking the solo lead at the turn. Although she stumbled with a bogey at the fifth, Korda bounced back with birdies at the par-5 sixth and eighth holes. She concluded her round with a birdie at the par-3 ninth, further solidifying her position at the top.
Lee, a 25-year-old on her debut as an LPGA member, achieved her best tour finish at the 2019 BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea, where she tied for fourth. In her second round, she birdied the second, fourth, and seventh holes, with a bogey at the eighth. She continued her impressive performance on the back nine, with birdies at the 10th, 13th, 14th, and 17th holes.
Lydia Ko, the ninth-ranked player in the world, posted a score of 70 in the second round. Despite not having her best game, the recent winner of her 20th career LPGA title at the Tournament of Champions remained in contention.
Ayaka Furue, who finished fourth in the previous week's tournament, made a strong resurgence with a 67 in the second round. She started her round by birdying four of the first six holes, placing herself within striking distance.
Lin Xiyu had a rocky start with a birdie at the 10th, followed by four bogeys in five holes from the 12th to the 16th. However, she managed to turn her game around with a birdie at the 17th. The back nine saw a remarkable turnaround for Lin, as she birdied the first three holes after the turn and closed her round with four consecutive birdies.
With the leaderboard packed with talented players and exciting performances, the LPGA Drive On Championship promises to be an electrifying battle for the title.
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