Kiwi Lydia Ko has fired herself into contention at the LPGA's Mizuho America's Open at New Jersey, sitting one shot off the leaders at halfway.
Beginning her second round at three-under and in a tie for fifth, Ko carded four birdies and one bogey on the second day, and didn't drop a shot on the back nine, moving to six-under for the tournament.
After a bogey on her third hole, she made back-to-back birdies on the sixth and seventh, and then another on the ninth to surge up the leaderboard and into contention.
Ko, 26, made one final birdie on the 10th, before finishing her second round with eight consecutive pars.
She sits a shot back from the pair of Australia's Minjee Lee and American Cheyenne Knight of the US, both at seven-under at the halfway stage.
Lee's second round of eight-under, consisting of eight birdies without dropping a shot, saw her soar from 55th up to first after her second round.
Meanwhile, Knight began her day tied for fifth with Ko and made six birdies, with two bogeys, to gain a shot advantage over the Kiwi.
Overnight leader Lauren Hartlage of the US opened the day at seven-under, but dropped into a tie for 12th, after carding four-over in her second round.
