The 22-year-old Park had six birdies in a seven-hole stretch in the middle of the round, and birdied three of the last four holes on Sky 72’s Ocean Course.
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It lifted the world No. 2 to 10-under, a stroke clear of American Lexi Thompson. “I’m just going to focus on one shot at a time and on my game, because I know there’s going to be a lot of great golf from a lot of great players”.
“My family is coming down here on the weekend, and it’s going to be great to share the moment with them”, Ko added.
“Because if you are leading, you’ve got time where you can expand the lead and give yourself a little bit of breathing room”.
“I think I put myself in good position”, Ko said.
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to try and ignore you guys (the media)”.
Even though she is now the hunted, not the hunter, Ko, searching for a fifth LPGA win this year, is going to maintain the same approach on Saturday as the one she employed so successfully on Friday.
“I really feel like In-bee deserves that No. 1 ranking”, she continued. It was awesome to watch.
“It’s great to play in front of big crowds”, Ko said. The Associated Press noted that Park was regularly driving the ball 10 to 15 yards past the long-hitting Wie and Thompson. “The greens are rolling pretty quick and they are pretty pure”. “If I thought about the rankings, it’s just way too much”.
She has been outside the top-10 just twice in seven events since Arkansas, and has won twice in her last three starts. Kim took the Founders Cup in Phoenix, and Choi the Marathon Classic in Ohio.
Inbee Park was tied for 25th at 3 under after a 72.
Korea LPGA Tour star Park Sung-hyun, who held the first round lead with a new course record of 10-under 62, had an up-and-down round of two-over 74, falling to a tie for third with fellow South Korean Cho Yoon-ji. This year Park – could we now be looking at two Park Powerhouses? – is inside the ropes and setting the pace at the HanaBank.
Ko began the week trailing South Korean Park In-bee in the world rankings, LPGA’s money list, and the Player of the Year points race.
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Her turning point of the season came during the final round at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in late June, when she was paired with Jessica Korda.
