Catriona Matthew charges into contention in major
The 46-year-old had been sitting below the projected cut mark in the second women’s major of the season after an opening 77 that included a triple-bogey 6 at the short 17th.
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Hide AdBut she leapt up 55 spots to lie joint-11th following a four-under-par second-day effort that was the best of the day by two shots at the venue in Sammamish.
It was also the North Berwick woman’s career-low round in the event.
Matthew, who finished runner-up to Inbee Park three years ago, carded five birdies - at the third, fifth, ninth, 11th and 14th.
Her only dropped shot came at the par-4 12th as she moved to one-over, just three shots off the lead, held by Canadian Brooke Henderson and South Korea’s Mirim Lee.
“I actually played pretty well yesterday, but I had a bad hole at 17, and dumped two in the water,” said Matthew, a former British Women’s Open champion.
“But, apart from that, I played well. Today, I played well again, but hit the 17th green this time and gave myself a chance.”
Others in with a chance of claiming the title include world No 1 Lydia Ko, who is lying joint-third after rounds of 71 and 70.
Holly Clyburn, Matthew’s main rival in the battle to join Charley Hull in Team GB at the Olympics in Rio, missed the cut.
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Hide AdElsewhere, Colin Montgomerie sits five off the lead after two rounds in the latest over-50s major, the Constellation Senior Players, in Philadelphia.
The big Scot signed for seven bogeys and four birdies in an up-and-down second round at Philadelphia Country Club. His 73 left him sitting joint-15th on three-over.
American Brandt Jobe (69-69) leads by one from compatriot Scott Dunlap and defending champion Bernhard Langer.
On the PGA Tour, Martin Laird missed the cut by a shot following rounds of 72 and 70 in the FedEx St Jude Classic in Memphis.
Daniel Berger leads by three shots on nine-under, with Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson all sitting four off the pace.