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No knee-jerk reaction as Ariya goes top

Thai sensation shrugs off injury concerns to lead Canadian Women's Open

Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn set her sights on a fifth victory this year as she took a three-stroke lead after the second round of the Canadian Women's Open yesterday morning (Singapore time).

The 20-year-old completed the final two holes of her delayed first round in the morning, where she finished at four under, then fired a bogey-free eight-under 64 in the second round to move to 12 under and take command.

South Korea's Chun In Gee (67) and Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow (69) trail her at nine under at Calgary's Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club.

Chella Choi of South Korea had started the day in sole possession of the lead, completing her weather-disrupted first round to finish with a 65.

But she was unable to build on her lead in a roller-coaster second round, notching four birdies and three bogeys to finish with a 71, four off the lead.

World No. 2 Ariya won her last LPGA Tour event, the Women's British Open, but withdrew from the third round of the Rio Olympics with a knee injury.

The knee didn't appear to bother her on the way to a red-hot second round.

"I know I hurt my knee, so that's why I didn't play very good in the third round (of the Olympics)," Ariya said.

"After the draw, I felt okay. I just had to rest and take care of my knee. So after that, I feel like just playing golf, and it didn't feel like anything changed."

World No. 1 Lydia Ko, seeking her fourth Canadian Women's Open, is four shots behind after shooting a 69 in the second round.

- Wire Services.

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