Mi Hyang Lee took a big step towards a first major title on Friday as she claimed the outright lead at the Evian Championship in France.
After tying for the lead overnight at five under par with America’s Lexi Thompson, the South Korean carried her good form in the second round, posting a four-under 67.
The 22-year-old — who recorded her best finish in a major in April, tying for eighth at the ANA Inspiration — was a model of consistency, hitting 17 greens in regulation.
Lee has only tasted success once before on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour, winning last November’s Mizuno Classic.
She admitted to a few nerves about leading a major tournament.
“I want to play, just I want to concentrate for one shot, so I don’t want to think the score, because a little nervous for me. So yeah, just I want to try just by one shot,” Lee told reporters.
The approach is working for her so far. Five birdies and a solitary bogey left Lee on nine under par after 36 holes, one shot ahead of Morgan Pressel.
The American carded the best round of the day — a six-under-par 65 — to be in sight of her second major title. Aged 18, Pressel became the youngest winner of a modern LPGA major in 2007 when she won the ANA Inspiration.
Starting at the 10th hole Friday, the 27-year-old opened with a bogey but quickly found her range, picking up five birdies and another bogey as she headed to the turn.
Three more birdies on the closing nine gave Pressel her best round in 10 starts at the tournament, which became the fifth women’s major in 2013.
“If you are on and hit your targets, especially on these greens, you can have short putts for birdies. But if you miss it, sometimes by a couple feet, it could spell double bogey,” she told reporters.
One shot further back was Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen, on seven under after posting a second-round 67. China’s Shanshan Feng was fourth on six under following a second consecutive 68.
New Zealand’s world No. 2 Lydia Ko, seeking her first major title, was tied for fifth on four under after a second 69.
World No. 1 Inbee Park followed up a disappointing opening round of 72 with a two-under 69, to be eight shots adrift of compatriot Lee. Park is seeking to complete a collection of five different major titles, though she did win the Evian in 2012.
She was in a three-way tie for 20th place alongside Americans Beth Allen and Michelle Wie.
The 25-year-old Wie, who is sporting multicolored rainbow hair this week, repaired the damage of her opening 75 with a sparkling 66.
Returning to competitive action following a finger injury, the 2014 U.S. Open champion is seeking to win the second major of her career.