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Mirim Lee maintains lead in Women's British Open

By The Sports Xchange
Mirim Lee. (YouTube)
Mirim Lee. (YouTube)

Mirim Lee was unable to come close to matching her torrid opening-round score but she still possesses the lead at Friday's halfway point of the Ricoh Women's British Open at Woburn, England.

Lee's second-round score of 71 was nine shots higher than her first-round 62. The South Korean sits at 11-under 133 and holds a one-shot lead over China's Shanshan Feng and Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn.

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Lee's round included three birdies and two bogeys -- a much different trip around the Marquess' Course than Thursday's excursion in which she compiled 10 birdies without a single bogey.

"I had issues with my tee shots," Lee told reporters after the round. "I had a couple of three-putts too, but I think with some practice I can overcome my mistakes from today."

Lee, 25, is winless since 2014. Earlier this season, she shot an opening-round 64 in the U.S. Women's Open before finishing in a tie for 11th place.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew (round-best 65) and South Korean Ha Na Jang (67) are tied for fourth at 9-under. American Mo Martin (68) is three shots off the lead and American Stacy Lewis (70) is another stroke back in seventh place at 7-under.

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Feng followed an opening-round 66 with a 68 to move within one shot of Lee. She dropped in six birdies and had two bogeys.

Feng claims she didn't know Lee shot a 62 in Thursday's first round.

"I don't look at leaderboards until we finish on Sunday," Feng told reporters. "So I actually don't know what the others are doing and don't know where they are at. I only know what I am doing."

Jutanugarn had four birdies and one bogey while shooting a 69. She fired a 65 in the first round.

Matthew, who turns 47 next month, posted her stellar score while sinking seven birdies.

"It is one of my best rounds ever, certainly one of my best for ball striking," said Matthew, the 2009 British Open champ. "I had seven birdies and had a few more chances. Now I just want to give myself a chance on Sunday."

World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand was in danger of missing the cut but delivered birdies on the 15th and 16 holes to finish with a second-round 70 and an even-par 144 total, tied for 56th.

"Going into today my goal was to play all four rounds," Ko said. "Now I just have to stay positive. There are still 36 holes to go."

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Among the players missing the cut were Americans Morgan Pressel, Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer -- all at 5-over.

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