A Lim Kim retains lead at HSBC Women's World Championship

South Korea's A Lim Kim put together a steady second round and maintained a one-stroke lead at the HSBC Women's World Championship on Friday in Singapore.

She carded a 3-under-par 69 on the Tanjong course at Sentosa Golf Club, leaving her at 7-under 137 as the tournament hit the midpoint.

New Zealand's Lydia Ko, the world's third-ranked player, shot a 67 on Friday, and she is alone in second place at 6 under.

South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim (second-round 66) and England's Charley Hull (70) share third place at 5 under.

Sarah Schmelzel (67), Yealimi Noh (68), Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn (66), Japan's Ayaka Furue (69) and China's Ruoning Yin (70) are all at 4 under, tied for fifth.

Two South Korean players, Haeran Ryu (68) and Hye-Jin Choi (71), are tied for 10th at 3 under.

A Lim Kim's solid round nearly had a spectacular moment on the par-3 fourth hole. Her tee shot landed inches away from the cup.

"I think I was just short of the pin but it kept rolling," she said. "I didn't see my ball, but somebody told me. Still a great shot."

A Lim Kim earned the third win of her LPGA career earlier this month at the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando. As to whether she can repeat the feat this week, she said, "I always talk about that, (the) result is not my goal. Keep working on my process."

Ko, a 22-time LPGA winner who posted three victories last year, highlighted her bogey-free round with consecutive birdies at Nos. 12 and 13.

"Putting is not easy around here, I think," Ko said, "so trying to get myself as close to the ball, obviously, is going to increase my probability of making it. I think I did that fairly well today. So hopefully I can continue that these next couple days."

Hyo Joo Kim and Anannarukarn each produced the lowest single-round score of the tournament. Hyo Joo Kim needed a tournament-low 23 putts to complete her round, helped by an eagle on the par-5 13th hole.

Hull's relatively event-free day included a bogey and a birdie on the front nine, then back-to-back birdies at Nos. 12 and 13.

"I had a good shot on the first (but) missed the putt," Hull said. "Then got on to a good start from there. Played decent. Missed a couple short putts, but bounced back on the back nine. Look forward to tomorrow."

World No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand followed a 71 with a 72 and is tied for 16th at 1 under.

Defending champion Hannah Green of Australia is tied for 23rd at even par following a 69.

--Field Level Media