European Solheim Cup players Lottie Woad and Charley Hull are six shots off the pace at the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship with US team rival Allisen Corpuz holding a share of the lead heading into the weekend.
The English duo are tied 27th on three-under-par after Woad slipped back from a promising first round through a one-over 73 and Hull posted a two-under 70.
But Corpuz shot a 67 to take a share of the lead with Japan’s in-form Miyu Yamashita, last week’s winner on the LPGA Tour, and Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim on nine under.
Yamashita is in contention again five days after tying the tour’s 72-hole scoring record in a nine-short victory at the CPKC Women’s Open.
She shot a two-under second round to get to nine under, while Corpuz and Kim were both five under for their Fridays.
Morgane Metraux (65) and Ruoning Yin (65) and Jenny Bae (68) were a stroke behind the leaders. Nataliya Guseva (68) and Emily Kristine Pedersen (72) were seven under.
First-round leader Sei Young Kim followed her opening 64 with a 74 to fall three strokes back.
World No 1 Nelly Korda had her second straight 72 to make the cut on the number in the final event before the Solheim Cup in the Netherlands from September 11, live on Sky Sports.
European captain Anna Nordqvist advanced to the weekend in her final event before playing retirement. The Swede rebounded from an opening 74 with a 68.
KPMG Women’s Irish Open: Alexander in full control at The K Club
South Africa’s Casandra Alexander stretched her lead to five shots at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open with a second-round 66 to move to 15-under par for the tournament.
After opening the event with a nine-under 63 on Thursday – a record for the Palmer South Course at The K Club – Alexander appeared set to threaten the mark again after opening with eagle-birdie-birdie at the 10th, 11th and 12th.
After making the turn in 32, a second eagle of the round at the third was followed by a bogey at the sixth and birdie at the seventh.
Alexander leads Sara Kouskova (66) and Brianna Navarrosa (65) by five shots.
“Not as tidy as yesterday,” said Alexander
“I left some putts right in the throat and had some awkward wedge numbers. But overall pretty good. It was always going to be hard to follow up yesterday’s round.
“Sometimes that’s really difficult to get two days really flowing and going. Two eagles helped the situation. Six-under, I’m very happy.”
Canice Screene is the top Irish player in tied eighth after birdies on seven of her final 12 holes saw her post a 67. Leona Maguire is tied 26th after a second-successive one-under-par 71.
Watch the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship throughout the weekend live on Sky Sports. Live coverage from Ireland continues Saturday from 2.30pm on Sky Sports Golf Get latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOW.