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Lydia Ko catches up to lead before rain hits LPGA in Florida

The world number one Lydia Ko has just one hole to play in her second round and has moved into a share of the lead with first round leader Ha Na Jang who is still waiting for her second round to get underway.

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World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, playing her first round of the season, fired a 69 to share eighth spot, along with France’s Karine Icher, South Korean Chella Choi, Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura and Pornanong Phatlum and Americans Lexi Thompson, Lizette Salas, Mo Martin, Cristie Kerr and Juli Inkster.

Ko has a bogey free round of four birdies going at Golden Ocala, pulling her into a tie for the lead with Ha Na Jang at 7 under overall.

Ko was at seven-under at the top of the board when rain stopped play at the Coates Championship. “I felt more comfortable today”.

It’s the New Zealander’s first event of the LPGA season after she skipped the year-opening event in the Bahamas to rest. Ko said. “I’ve just got to be patient out there”.

“I left a few putts out there where I did have good looks at birdies, but what can you do?” The former Arizona State player missed the cut last week at Torrey Pines after tying for third in La Quinta.

Ko was on her final green when the siren sounded.

Sarah Kemp completed her second round and is two-over while Sarah Jane Smith is one-over through 13 holes. McIlroy bogeyed two of the easiest holes on the course – the par-5 10th, his first hole, and the driveable par-4 second – but also had six birdies to put him close behind leader Alex Noren of Sweden. “It seemed like I was hitting (approach shots) a couple of yards further so on the back nine I tried to control it a little bit and go nearly half a club less”.

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Nomura, who started the tournament with a level-par 72, had a much better showing on Thursday as she made seven birdies and a bogey.

Lydia Ko tied the lead before rain stopped play at Golden Ocala