Rookie Kim grabs 2-shot lead

Rookie Kim Sei-Young seized a two-shot lead with a seven-under 69, while world number one Lydia Ko saw her consecutive under-par streak snapped at 29 in the first major championship of the season.
The 22-year-old Kim of South Korea eagled her final hole to finish two rounds at a seven-under 137 at the LPGA Tour's ANA Inspiration tournament.
Ko missed a chance to break the LPGA record for consecutive rounds under par when she shot a one-over 73 at the Mission Hills Country Club course. Ko's one-under 71 on Thursday tied her with Annika Sorenstam for the most consecutive under par rounds with 29.
Kim, who earned her first career victory on the Tour earlier this season at the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic, finished with six birdies and the eagle while Ko ended her second round at even-par 144 and is seven shots back.
"I feel really great because I was seven-under today," Kim said. "I really hit the ball good and my putting was really good. I'm very happy."
The 17-year-old Ko, of New Zealand, said she was disappointed to see the hot streak end.
"It was pretty awesome that I was near Annika's record last week and even yesterday, and then I tied it," Ko said.
"It was so cool that I'm tying with someone as amazing and as great as her. I would have loved to reach 30," she said. "I wasn't counting, but 29 under-par rounds is pretty good in my book."
First-round leader Morgan Pressel shot an even-par 72, putting her two back and alone in second at five-under.
Former winner Brittany Lincicome (68) is tied for third with Jenny Shin (69) and Catriona Matthew (69) at four-under 140.
Defending champ Lexi Thompson (69), Thailand's Moriya Jutanugarn (70) and Feng Shan-shan, of China, (70) highlight a group of seven players tied for sixth at three-under.
The only other time Kim has held a 36-hole lead was when she won the Pure Silk tournament by beating two others in a playoff.
This is her third appearance in an LPGA major and her best finish was 46th at the US Women’s Open last year. She tied for 61st at this event a year ago.
Kim hit 17 of 18 greens on Friday, blasting to within 15 feet of the pin on each of her four birdies on the front nine.
Pressel, who won this event eight years ago, had three birdies and three bogeys in her even-par round.
Source: AFP