Golf: Lydia Ko near top of the leaderboard at Scottish Open

Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko has once again found herself near the top of the leaderboard at the Women’s Scottish Open.

The New Zealand golfer recorded four birdies and a bogey, turning in back-to-back 69s at the halfway mark of the tournament.

Ko is in a three-way tie for third, just two shots off the pace set by joint leaders Australian Minjee Lee and American Megan Khang, who sit at eight-under.

The field had to deal with wet weather in the first round and mother nature threw another curve ball in the second round – wind.

“It’s a lot of creativity is required when the wind is this much because I have to hit a 3-wood from 175 (yards), which is normally a 5-iron distance,” Ko said. “I think it’s kind of out of the ordinary situations, but you just have to adjust to the situations really quick.”

Ko sat in a five-way tie for fifth two shots back from Australian Minjee Lee after the first round. Khang, who put together another four-under 68, has joined Lee atop the leaderboard.

Ko is in a three-way tie with LPGA Tour winner Charley Hull and CPKC Women’s Open winner Lauren Coughlin.