American Danielle Kang fired seven birdies in a six-under par 66 on Friday to grab a one-shot lead halfway through the LPGA Mediheal Championship at Lake Merced Golf Club.
Kang started the day six shots behind overnight leader Leona Maguire, but climbed steadily with birdies at the third, eighth and ninth holes and two more at the 14th and 15th.
She bounced back from her lone bogey of the day at 16 with a birdie at the par-five 18th for a 36-hole total of seven-under 137.
Kang, who finished tied for 35th in the US Women’s Open at nearby Olympic Club last week, said the warmer weather this week had helped her. Seven-under was where Ireland’s Maguire started the day, but she faded fast with bogeys at the first three holes. Maguire steadied the ship with birdies at the seventh and ninth and after a bogey at 11 she birdied 12 and 15 to get to even for the round, but a bogey at 16 saw her sign for a one-over 73. At six-under 138 she was tied for second with American Lauren Kim, who had four birdies in her three-under 69.  Although she played the Lake Merced course often as a junior golfer, she said she hadn’t played it much in recent years.
She missed the cut in her first three starts this year and finished 81st in her last start, the Pure Silk Championship.

RESULTS
(USA unless noted)
137-Danielle Kang 71-66
138-Lauren Kim 69-69, Leona Maguire (IRL) 65-73
139-Lee Min (TPE) 70-69
140-Matilda Castren (FIN) 71-69, Jenny Coleman 71-69, Jane Park 69-71, Alison Lee 68-72
141-Charley Hull (ENG) 73-68, Liu Yu (CHN) 72-69, Jenny Shin (KOR) 72-69, Yealimi Noh 72-69, Kim A-lim (KOR) 72-69, Angel Yin 72-69, Su Oh (AUS) 71-70, Lauren Stephenson 70-71, Patty Tavatanakit (THA) 70-71, Lee Da-yeon (KOR) 69-72, Jennifer Kupcho 69-72