Ko Jin-young moved into a share of the lead with American Amanda Doherty after the second round of the LPGA Tour's Kroger Queen City Championship at Maketewah Country Club (par 70) in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Friday (Korean time).
Ko shot a 4-under 66 with four birdies and no bogeys to reach 7-under 133, climbing from fourth place to a tie at the top.
"I tried not to be afraid of bogeys," Ko said of her strong performance. She has not won since her 15th career LPGA title at the Founders Cup in May 2023, and her world ranking has slipped to 51st. Doherty, who also carded a 4-under 66 to share the lead, is ranked 420th in the world.
Yoon Yi-na, who shared the first-round lead, fell to a tie for 10th at 3-under 137 after a 1-over 71 with three birdies and four bogeys. Choi Woon-jung, also a co-leader after Round 1, dropped four spots to a tie for fifth at 4-under 136 following an even-par 70. Japan's Rio Takeda, the other first-round co-leader, joined Choi at 4-under 136.
England's Lottie Woad climbed to sole third at 6-under 134 after shaving six strokes off her score, while New Zealand's Lydia Ko moved into sole fourth at 5-under 135 after a 3-under round.
More threatening to Korean players seeking a fourth tour win this season are the world's top two players, who each cut three strokes off their scores Friday to climb from a tie for ninth to a tie for fifth at 4-under 136. World No. 1 Nelly Korda of the United States and World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand have combined for nearly half of the trophies in the past 11 events, with Korda winning three and Thitikul two.
Yu Hae-ran shot a 4-under 66 to join the tie for 10th, while Chun In-gee carded a 6-under 64 to reach the turn at a tie for 16th at 2-under 138, alongside Kang Min-ji.
The group tied for 25th at 1-under 139 includes Kim Sei-young, who trimmed two strokes Friday, as well as Lee Jeong-eun6 and Kim A-rim, who both shot even par.
