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Danielle Kang birdied her final two holes in the second round of the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio on Friday, grabbing a tie with first-round leader Lydia Ko at 11 under par going into the weekend in Boca Raton.
Kang, who started her day at 7 under after a first-round 65, went birdie-birdie on holes 13 and 14 (her fourth and fifth holes of the day) and then grabbed another on her 10th hole. At 10 under, however, she stumbled with a bogey on the next hole.
She closed the round with birdies on Boca Rio’s eighth and ninth to finish with a 11-under 133.
Meanwhile, Ko, who finished tied for second at the event last year, twice saw a birdies (on Nos. 2 and 9) followed by bogeys (on Nos. 7 and 11), keeping her at 9-under going to the 14th hole.
She birdied that par-4 and then reached her 11-under with a two on the par-3 17th.
Jodi Ewart Shadoff (69) and Yuka Saso (70) are tied for third at 7 under.
The tournament made its return to Boca Raton after last year’s event was held at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando in late February.
Defending champion Nelly Korda is tied for 17th after a 72 in her second round left her at 4 under.
Coral Springs’ Lexi Thompson is also tied for 17th after she shot her second straight 70.
