CAMBRIDGE, Ontario (AP) – Marina Alex eagled her final hole for an 8-under 64 and the second-round lead Friday in the LPGA Manulife Classic.
Alex played the final five holes in 5 under for the lowest score in her LPGA Tour career, setting up the 18-foot eagle putt with a 5-wood approach on the par-5 ninth.
The 26-year-old former Vanderbilt player had a 10-under 134 total at Whistle Bear for a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s P.K. Kongkraphan and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim.
Second-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn was four strokes back after a 68 in her bid to win three straight events for the second time this season. She won the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open on Sunday in Alberta.
Kongkraphan had a bogey-free 66, and Kim closed with a birdie for a 67.
Canadian star Brooke Henderson was 3 under after a 71. Top-ranked Lydia Ko was 2 under after a 72.