Olympics: Park leads Lewis by one, Hull two back in Rio
Three birdies in her last four holes gave Inbee Park a second 66 and the halfway lead though the round of the day belonged to recently-wed Stacy Lewis. Two shots back are GB’s Charley Hull and Canada’s teenage Major champion Brooke Henderson.
Hull was going along steadily at two under for the day but then produced a hat-trick of birdies to turn a good day into a great one, her 66 taking her to eight under.
But that six-under effort was put into the shade by America’s Lewis, who only had five pars in a round which included 11 birdies, a bogey and a double. Lewis doubled the 14th, otherwise she birdied every other hole from the 13th.
Not surprisingly her putter was pretty hot, holing six putts of over 10 feet. She now ties Marcus Fraser for the lowest round, a 63, over the Olympic course.
Lewis has not won a tournament since June 2014 and in the interim has finished second eight times but maybe her new-found status, she got married on August 6, will kickstart another winning run. From 2012 to that last victory she picked up 10 triumphs.
Hull is a similar case, her only victory came in March 2014 though she is still only 20.
Park is also winless in 2016 but that is down to problems with a thumb injury so her return to form comes as quite a surprise. She also turned it on over the back nine, coming home in 32 for a 66.
Likewise Henderson, who won the year’s second Major, the PGA Championship at just 19, and she birdied five of the last six holes for a 64.
Overnight leader and Women’s British Open champion Ariya Jutanugarn could only muster a level-par 71 to remain on six under while World No 1 Lydia Ko could only get to three under after two days. There was some progress from GB’s other hope, Catriona Matthew, who moved from 26th to 13th after a 66.
Park, Lewis and Hull will go off in the final threeball at 3.09pm.
Leaderboard: Park (-10), Lewis (-9), Hull (-8), Henderson (-8), Skarpnord (-7), Larsen (-7), Kung (-7)
