WINNIPEG — Morgan Pressel has rocketed up the leaderboard at the CN Canadian Women’s Open.
The American is in the clubhouse at 6-under overall after shooting 6-under 66 in the second round.
Pressel is chasing first-round leader Michelle Wie, who shot a 65 on Thursday at St. Charles Country Club. Her round included a hole-in-one.
Australia’s Sarah Jane Smith also carded a 66 Friday, climbing into contention after opening with a 75.
Wie is looking strong for a second straight day, sitting at 3-under through 15 holes.
Fellow Aussie Sarah Kemp, who was second after her first-round 68, has an afternoon tee time.
Fourteen Canadians are trying not to repeat last year’s Open outcome, where no homegrown players made the cut.
Lisa Meldrum of Montreal is on the bubble after shooting 2-under 70 for a two-day total of 3-over 147.
The cut is low 70s and ties, with the projected mark 3-over.
Top-rated Canadian Alena Sharp of Hamilton followed up a disappointing first-round 76 with a 79. B.C.’s Sue Kim also shot a 79 to go with Thursday’s 74.
Thursday’s low Canadian, Seema Sadekar of Toronto (73), fellow Torontonian Rebecca Lee-Bentham (75) and veteran Lorie Kane (75) have afternoon rounds.
The field dropped to 154 players after Shi Hyn Ahn and Il Mi Chung of South Korea were disqualified late Thursday for mistakenly playing each other’s balls on the 18th green.
The players are vying for a cut of the US$2.25-million purse, with $337,500 going to the winner.