Nasa Hataoka hits her second shot out of the sand on the first hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open on Friday at Wilshire Country Club. Hataoka birdied her last three holes for a 68 that gave her a share of the 36-hole lead at 7-under. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Jin Young Ko tees off at the second tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Nasa Hataoka tees off at the 17th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Nasa Hataoka, right, fist bumps her caddie, after sinking a shot on the 17th green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Hannah Green, second from left, putts on the 17th green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Haeji Kang tees off on the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee chips on to the 13th green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee waves to the crowd after sinking a putt on the ninth hole during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Emily Kristine Pederson tees off at the 18th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Inbee Park tees off at the second tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Former UCLA star Alison Lee chips on the 10th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Crews clean up the course between the 16th and 17th fairways before the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. The tournament was delayed after overnight rains flooded parts of the course. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Former UCLA star Alison Lee hits her second shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Former UCLA star Alison Lee hits her second shot on the 10th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Jin Young Ko tees off at the fifth hole during the second round of the LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open on Friday at Wilshire Country Club. The top-ranked Ko had five birdies on the back nine in a 7-under-par 64 for a share of the 36-hole lead. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Inbee Park stands on the first green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Inbee Park tees off at the fifth tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee of Australia tees off the 17th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Minjee Lee chips on to the 10th green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Former UCLA star Alison Lee tees off the 14th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Former UCLA star Alison Lee reacts after making a putt on the 13th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Brooke Henderson tees off on the fifth tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Maddie Szeryk hits from the sand on to the first green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Celine Boutier watches her shot at the 14th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jin Young Kim hits from the 15th fairway during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Maddie Szeryk tees off at the second tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Georgia Hall tees off at the 18th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jin Young Ko putts on the fourth green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jin Young Ko waves to fans after sinking a putt on the first green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Danielle Kang tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Sei Young Kim putts on the fourth green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Sei Young Kim tees off at the second hole during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Emma Talley watches her shot from the first fairway during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Moriya Jutanugarn putts on the 10th green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Sei Young Kim tees off at the fifth hole during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Celine Boutier hits from the 13th fairway during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Ryann O’Toole tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Danielle Kang of the United States tees off the 11th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Sei Young Kim hits from the rough on the first hole during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jennifer Kupcho tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Patty Tavatanakit takes a practice swing before teeing off at the 17th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Yuka Saso tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee stands on the 13th green during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee, right, waves to fans after sinking a putt on the 13th green while Danielle Kang, left, lines up a shot during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Emma Talley of the United States tees off on the 11th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Hee Young Park of South Korea tees off on the 18th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Sophia Popov of Germany reacts as she tees off the 11th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Jenny Coleman of the United States lines up her putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden tees off the fifth hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Cheyenne Knight of the United States tees off the 11th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand reacts as she tees off the 11th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Crews clean up the course between the 16th and 17th fairways before the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. The tournament was delayed after overnight rains flooded parts of the course. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Minjee Lee of Australia tees off the 11th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Sophia Schubert of the United States tees off the 11th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The sun sets as players finish up play during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Ryann O’Toole tees off the 14th hole during the second round of the DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club on April 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Celine Boutier tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Emma Talley tees off at the 11th tee during the second round of LPGA’s DIO Implant LA Open golf tournament at Wilshire Country Club on Friday, April 22, 2022, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
LOS ANGELES — Jin Young Ko had five back-nine birdies in a 7-under-par 64 at demanding Wilshire Country Club for a share of the second-round lead Friday with Nasa Hataoka in the DIO Implant LA Open.
Five strokes behind first-round leader Alison Lee after a 71, the top-ranked Ko moved into position for her second victory of the season in the first of two straight LPGA Tour events in the Los Angeles area.
“My putting was so good today,” Ko said. “I wasn’t expecting to play really well today because in the afternoon it’s always hard to play this course. But my putting was good, so I’m happy with it.”
Hataoka birdied her final three holes for a 68 to match Ko at 7 under.
After dropping a stroke on the par-4 ninth, Ko birdied Nos. 11-14 and added her eighth birdie of the day on the par-4 17th.
“I didn’t think I played 5 under on the back nine,” Ko said. “I didn’t know that. I was in the zone.”
The 26-year-old South Korean star won in Singapore early last month for her 13th LPGA Tour title. She won five times last year.
“I have two more rounds and nobody knows how it goes,” Ko said. “So working hard and focus on it and go get it.”
Hataoka had seven birdies and four bogeys. The 23-year-old from Japan has five LPGA Tour victories, winning twice last season.
“The wind was pretty strong,” Hayaoka said. “The greens are pretty tight, narrow. So my plan was to hit the green, not try to be too aggressive. On the back nine, the wind kind of got weaker, so I was able to hit at the pin.”
Hannah Green was third at 5 under after a bogey-free 67. The Australian won her two LPGA Tour titles in 2019.
“I’m very pleased,” Green said. “I guess today’s round kind of felt like even more under par than what it was. I was pretty solid with my putting all day today which was nice because yesterday I had a couple three-putts.”
Fellow Australian Minjee Lee, the 2019 winner, had a 68 to match Haeji Kang (69) at 4 under. Inbee Park (67) topped the group at 3 under.
“You’ve got to really be careful how you play the holes – and you can’t get too greedy,” Park said. “Even though the course is short, it’s just really tough.”
Lee, a former UCLA standout who grew up in Valencia, was 2 under, following her opening 66 with a 74.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson, playing alongside Ko, shot 76-72 to miss the cut.
