COQUITLAM, British Columbia, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old newly crowned U.S. Women's Amateur champion, seized a share of the lead Friday at the Canadian Women's Open.
Ko, from New Zealand, defeated Jaye Marie Green 3-and-1 in Cleveland this month to capture the Amateur title. She has followed that up with rounds of 68-68 at the Vancouver Golf Club to share the halfway lead with Chella Choi.
Their 136 totals put them three shots in front of Moira Dunn, Angela Stanford, Inbee Park and U.S. Women's Open champion Ny Yeon Choi.
Suzann Pettersen, Jiyai Shin and Vicky Hurst were all at 140.
First-round leader and world No. 1 Yani Tseng stumbled to a 75 Friday and dropped into a tie for 10th place at 141.
Ko parred the first 11 holes Friday and then birdied four out of six while shooting a 4-under 33 on the back nine.
