Lydia Ko put on a show Friday at the Canadian Women's Open.
Ko, a 15-year-old phenomenon who is still classified as an amateur, fired her second straight 4-under-par 68 to grab a share of the clubhouse lead with four-year LPGA veteran Chella Choi.
Both Ko and Choi sat at 8-under 136 with other contenders still on the course.
Ko, who was born in South Korea but has called New Zealand home since she was a tyke, continued a torrid season in which she has already won the U.S.
Women's Amateur and a professional tournament in Australia. The Grade 11 student went bogey-free as she played the front nine in even-par and shot 4-under on the back.
Ko indicated she was not feeling as much pressure as her more seasoned competitors.
"I'm just here for the experience," she said. "But the professionals, on the other hand, it's about how much money they're going to get by each placing."
It was a tough day for Canadians as most missed the cut. Lori Kane of Charlottetown experienced heartbreak as she bogeyed the final hole and was one shot above the projected cut of 147. Kane finished with a 4-over 76 to follow an even-par opening round.
Ko, who hopes to turn pro in a couple of years and also dreams of attending Stanford like her favourite golfer Michelle Wie, moved up from a first-round share of third place. Choi, also a South Korea native, charged up the leaderboard with a sizzling 8-under 64. It was a big improvement from the first round, when she only managed an even-par 72 and found herself in 32nd place.
Choi, who turns 22 on Saturday, said she was suffering from a sore shoulder in the first round, but a massage paid off.
"I'm very happy," she said. "I don't know how I made the putts."
But Ko knew what helped her. She was aided by caddy Brian Alexander, a longtime member of the Vancouver Golf Club. He has never caddied before and linked up with Ko by the luck of the draw after signing up with the tournament's caddy service.
While many pros travel with their own caddies, Ko has to get them wherever she goes. She said it has been a challenge finding good luggers, but she has lucked out.
"Two weeks ago at the U.S. Amateur, my mom caddied, and that is kind of a different feeling, because she's your mom and you have to listen to her," said Ko. "It was really comfortable having my mom there, but it's also really relieving and comfortable to have someone that knows the course off their hat, really.
"He's been here for, I think, 10 years, so he knows where not to go and where to go. There were quite a few tricky greens."
With golfers still due to come in, South Korea's Inbee Park retained a share of third as she recorded a 1under 71. Park, South Korean compatriot Na Yeon Choi, and American Angela Stanford were all at 5-under under 139.
Na Yeon Choi recorded an even-par 72 while Stanford posted a 2-under 69.
Four other golfers, including 2009 champion Suzann Pettersen, shared fourth place at 4-under 140.
"Well, this is a round that has a little bit of everything," said Pettersen after firing a 3-under 69.
Her round included six birdies and three bogeys.
She hoped to have a better read on the speed of the greens as she headed into the weekend. And how does it feel chasing a 15-year-old?
"It feels like you're being beaten by a kid," said Pettersen. "I know she's good.
The problem is, she's too young to understand where she's at."
