CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) - American Anya Alvarez had six birdies in an unblemished 66 to take a two-stroke lead after Saturday’s second round of the New Zealand Women’s Open, resisting a late charge from world No. 4 Lydia Ko.
Alvarez, who started the day two shots from the lead, had two birdies on her outward nine and four more on the way home to move to 8-under 136 in the Ladies European Tour event at Clearwater Golf Club.
New Zealand’s Ko shot her second-straight 69 and was within a stroke of the lead before finishing with a bogey on the 18th.
Beth Allen of the United States was tied for third place at 5-under with South Korea’s Kyu-jung Baek and Seon-woo Bae.
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