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Colombian Mariajo Uribe usurps Lydia Ko to take the lead at Women's Australian Open
Uribe shoots six-under to take the lead by one shot from 15-year-old New Zealander
Ko had led after day one with a round of 10-under but shot six worse on Friday
Teenage sensation Lydia Ko followed up her record-breaking round of 10-under-par on day one of the Women’s Australian Open with a score of 69, but it wasn’t enough to retain the overall lead.
Colombian Mariajo Uribe, whose round of nine-under on Thursday was overshadowed by her 15-year-old rival, again kept a bogey off her card as a 67 took her one shot clear on 15-under.
Korean World No. 7 Jiyai Shin is hot on the heels of Uribe, her round of six-under drawing her level with Ko on 14-under as the trio gear up for a battle in Canberra over the weekend.
“I went out just wanting to get in the competition more, after two months without playing, so it was a fun round,” Uribe told the tournament’s official website.
“I made good putts, took advantage of the opportunities and the same thing I did today. So I feel pretty good.
“It’s funny because the tournaments I play better are the ones that I’m rusty or that I’m not hitting the ball that well. I think I come in with low expectations and things kind of happen.
“I believe in things that are meant to be and I feel it’s meant to be for me to play good this week. Hopefully it stays like that for the weekend.”
It is the first time Uribe has led a tournament at the half way stage but she said she was comfortable with the expectation that brings: “I’m not the type of player who gets nervous. I love pressure. That’s when I play better, usually.”
It was perhaps inevitable Ko wouldn’t be able to repeat her heroics from day one but a steady round of four-under means she is well placed to launch an attack to claim the fourth tournament victory of her fledgling career.
“I think four-under is a pretty good score out there. I mean, it’s not an easy golf course. I’m pretty sure it is a pretty good score for me,” she said.
“I mean at some points, because my putting was so good yesterday when it didn’t go in I was a little disappointed but I think I putted well out there and played well.”