US’ Talley and New Zealand’s Hillier lead World Invitational

BALLYMENA: New Zealand golfer Daniel Hillier made the most of his tournament invite to claim the halfway lead in the World Invitational on Friday.

Hillier carded nine birdies and one bogey in a second round of 62 at Galgorm Castle to reach 11 under par, a shot ahead of overnight leader Jordan Smith, who followed his opening 62 at Galgorm with a 68 at Massereene Golf Club.

The 678th-ranked Hillier does not have full playing rights on any tour but equalled the course record with a 64 at Hollinwell in final qualifying for the British Open this month. He narrowly missed the cut at Royal St George’s.

In the women’s event, American Emma Talley opened up a three-shot lead over compatriot Jennifer Kupcho and South Korea’s Chella Choi thanks to a storming finish to her second round at Massereene. Talley was furious with herself ater posting a second bogey of the day on the par-4 second, her 11th hole, but responded with five birdies in the last six to complete a superb 65 and reach 13 under par.

England’s Charley Hull carded a second consecutive 68 to lie four shots off the pace alongside Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh, who led ater an opening 66 and added a 70 on Friday.

Meanwhile, Annika Sorenstam shot a 3-under 69, racing to finish before dark, to take a threestroke lead Friday in the US Senior Women’s Open.

The 50-year-old Sorenstam, a three-time US Women’s Open champion making her first appearance in the senior event, birdied Nos. 7-9 to get to 8 under and closed with pars on Nos. 1 and 2 at Brooklawn Country Club.

Sorenstam has hit 32 of 36 greens in regulation, with husband Mike Mcgee working as her caddie. “I’m super-pleased, I really am,” Sorenstam said. “The driver today was maybe not as sharp, but my irons were really on spot. Mike and I think we have a good system in trying to figure out where to go, and of course the rain last night makes the greens quite receptive, so I was able to fire more at the holes today.”

Playing partner and fellow Swede Liselote Neumann was second, birdieing the final two holes for a 69. She won the 1988 US Women’s Open to become the first Swedish major champion.

“That’s what I’ve been working for, just trying to be somewhere close to the lead going into the weekend, that’s what you hope for,” Neumann said.

“I’ve been trying to spend a lot time on the golf course lately, so I’m extremely happy.”

Fiteen players were unable to finish the round. The first-round was completed Friday morning ater rain prevented half the field from finishing Thursday.

Amateur Ellen Port (69) and Yuko Saito (70) were 4 under. The 59-year-old Port, a teacher in St. Louis, is a seven-time USGA champion.

“I’ve had a lot of practice with mental toughness and fighting through, trying to score,” Port said.