Sarah Kemps credits the camaraderie of her fellow Australian professionals for helping propel her to a share of the lead at the LPGA Tour’s Founders Cup in Clifton, New Jersey.
Key points:
- Kemp and Jin Young Ko lead the tournament at eight-under-par
- Minjee Lee is seven-under in a share of third place
- Kemp is yet to win an LPGA Tour event
Chasing a maiden LPGA Tour victory, Kemp joined South Korea’s former world number one Jin Young Ko at the top with a birdie-filled seven-under-par 65 in the second round.
Kemp and Ko are 8-under, with Australia’s defending champion Minjee Lee one shot back in a tie for third place following a three-under 69.
Another Australian, Steph Kyriacou, (69) is also in the mix at five-under for the tournament.
Kemp, Lee, Kyriacou and Hannah Green led Australia to the final of last week’s International Crown teams’ event in San Francisco and have carried the good vibes across the country.
“I just think we were in such a good head and mind space last week and it’s led over to this week,” Kemp said.
“We just had so much fun. We just keep talking about it when we see each other. We had such a great team and we just laughed so much.
“Hannah said she had a sore belly from laughing so much. My cheeks hurt from laughing.”
Kemp opened her second round in Clifton with three consecutive birdies, before adding five more.
She dropped her only shot of the day on the par-four 16th hole.
“The three birdies were awesome,” Kemp said.
“I just started hitting it good. I had a good warm-up and it felt like it was going to be a good day.
“I was hitting fairways and greens and they just started going in so it was a nice to trend for the day.”
Australians Karis Davidson (68) and Grace Kim (72) are joint 22nd at three-under, but a fatigued Green (72) missed the cut at four-over.
AAP
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