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Kung closes strong, grabs lead

Biridies 4 of final 6 holes, matches course record

COQUITLAM, British Columbia — Candie Kung birdied four of her final six holes Friday to match the course record with an 8-under 64 and take the second-round lead in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

The 34-year-old Taiwanese player had an 11-under 133 total at Vancouver Golf Club. Playing the back nine first, she birdied the first two holes and eagled the par-5 13th. She added birdies on Nos. 4 and 6-8.

“I just went out there, played one shot at a time, and I knew that I was putting pretty good,” Kung said. “I missed a few out there from about 10 feet. I was hitting them pretty close all day. And then made some key putts coming in.”

She has four LPGA Tour victories, winning three times in 2003 and once in 2008.

“I’ve been working pretty hard lately,” Kung said. “I guess it was a slump that I had back 2010, 2011, I just got caught up in life a little bit. Now I feel like I can get back into it again, play some golf, have some fun.”

Two-time champion Lydia Ko and first-round leader Karine Icher of France were tied for second.

“I have not looked at the leaderboard,” Kung said. “I really don’t care who is behind me. ... I’m hitting it good, I’m putting it good, and let’s see what happens.”

The 18-year-old Ko birdied the final hole for a 68.

“I got maybe in trouble a couple of times but was able to recover well,” Ko said. “I didn’t really have that many really tough positions. It’s good to finish well.”

Ko won in 2012 at Vancouver Golf Club at 15 years, 4 months to become the LPGA Tour’s youngest winner and fifth amateur champion. The New Zealander successfully defended her title in 2013 as an amateur in Edmonton, Alberta.

She has two victories this year.

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