'Oceania Power'... Lydia Ko-Day Leads by 2 Strokes

Grant Thornton Invitational 2R 6 Under Par
Korda-Finau, Maguire-Glover Tied 2nd
Tomspun-Fowler, Henderson-Corners Tied 4th

Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and Jason Day (Australia) showcased the 'Oceania Power.'

On the 9th (local time), the two players shot a 6-under-par 66 in the second round of the Grant Thornton Invitational (total prize money $4 million), a mixed event of the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour, held at the Tiburon Golf Club's Gold Course (par 72) in Naples, Florida, USA, propelling them to the lead (20-under-par 124).

Lydia Ko (left) and Jason Day are hugging after finishing the second round of the mixed tournament, the Grant Thornton Invitational, in the lead.
[Naples (USA) = AFP·Yonhap News]

Lydia Ko and Day collected seven birdies and one bogey. They were relatively 'quiet' in the front nine with two birdies and one bogey, but hunted consecutive birdies on holes 11, 13-14, and 16-17 in the back nine. Leading by two strokes, they seized the opportunity to become the inaugural champions.

Previous day leaders Nelly Korda and Tony Finau (both USA) finished 2-under-par, dropping to a tie for second place (18-under-par 126). Riona Maguire (Ireland) and Lucas Glover (USA) are also in this group. Rex Thompson and Rickie Fowler (both USA), Brooke Henderson and Corey Conners (both Canada) are tied for fourth place (16-under-par 128), eyeing a comeback. Madelene Saxstr?m and Ludvig ?berg (both Sweden) and Rose Zhang and Sahith Theegala (both USA) are tied for ninth place (12-under-par 132).

The tournament features 16 PGA Tour players and 16 LPGA Tour players paired in teams of two competing over three days. On the first day, players each hit their own shots, and then chose one of the two balls to play the next shot in a scramble format. The second day is played in a foursome format where players alternate shots with one ball, and the final day is a modified four-ball format where each player tees off, then hits the other's ball for the second shot.

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