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Canadian Alena Sharp shot a 6-under-par 66 in the second round and pulled into a tie for the lead with Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea and Lexi Thompson at the ManuLife LPGA Classic on Friday in Cambridge, Ontario. At 12-under-par 132 after 36 holes, the three leaders finished one stroke ahead of Perrine Delacour of France, Lindy Duncan and In Gee Chun of South Korea. Eighteen players are within four shots of the lead.
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Sharp's 66 was the same score as her first round. She has never held a lead in an LPGA event after 36 holes.
Thompson went one lower than Sharp with a 65 and Kim posted a 67.
Pelacour had the round of the day with a 10-under 62 to set a course record. Duncan carded a 65 and Chun a 66 at Whistle Bear Golf Club.
Sharp overcame a double bogey on the par-5 third hole after she called a penalty on herself when the ball moved. She racked up six birdies and an eagle.
"I got up and had a nice little run," said Sharp, who is No. 68 in the Rolex World Rankings. "Just got the nervous energy out. I just walked up to the golf course yesterday and today just feeling like it was going to be a good day. Just had these good vibes coming out."
Thompson's round was bogey free and included a run of birdies from Nos. 11 through 14. She completed the day with seven birdies as she bids to become the first player on the LPGA Tour to win two events this year.
"I'm playing very well so far," Thompson said. "I played some great golf, so hopefully that will continue into the weekend."
Delacour's sizzling 62 bested the previous course record of 63 set by Cheyenne Woods, Cristie Kerr and P.K. Kongkraphan in 2015. It was the low round on the LPGA Tour this year.
Starting at No. 9, Delacour ran off four straight birdies and added three more coming home for a 30 on the back nine.
"Yesterday I hit like 17 greens and couldn't make any putts," Delacour said. "Then today I had really good putting.
"Then like when I'm done I ask my caddie, 'Did I shoot 10 under?' He's like, yeah, I think so. So I didn't look at the score at all."
Duncan flirted with breaking 60 after scorching the front nine with a 7-under 29. She was 10 under for the day through 13 holes but stumbled with a double bogey and bogey on her final two holes.
"When I got to double digits, I was like, 'This is pretty awesome,'" Duncan said said. "I made a few birdies early on the back. I just kind of kept rolling with it."
At 10-under 134 were China's Shanshan Feng, a winner two weeks ago at the Volvik LPGA Championship, along with Minjee Lee of Australia and Bronte Law of England.
