EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — In Gee Chun posted a 5-under 66 to take a two-shot lead Friday at the Evian Championship, keeping the 22-year-old South Korean on course for the second major title of her career.

Chun, the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open champion, made a bogey on the fourth hole but otherwise played with great control, hitting six birdies in rainy and overcast conditions at the picturesque resort overlooking Lake Geneva as she moved to 13 under for the tournament.

South Korea’s Sung Hyun Park, who shared the overnight lead with Chun, had three bogeys and six birdies in a round of 68 and was tied for second place with Shanshan Feng – China’s only major winner.

So Yeon Ryu, who is also from South Korea, is three shots back in fourth place after posting her second straight 66.

Feng was a shot back overnight, as was American Annie Park, while defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand sat seven strokes behind after a disappointing opening day in her bid for a third major by the age of 19.

Feng started to tire on the back nine, carding two bogeys, but perked up with birdies on the final two holes for a 67.

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“There’s no benefit for just long hitters,” she said. “The rough is really long.”

Ko shot a 68 but was nine shots off the lead. Playing the back nine first, the South Korean-born New Zealander went out in an even 36 but improved on her way back to the clubhouse with a bogey and four birdies – including a brilliant chip-in on the fifth hole.

EUROPEAN TOUR: England’s Chris Paisley topped the Italian Open leaderboard at 10 under through 13 holes when the second round was suspended because of thunderstorms in Monza, Italy.

Masters champion Danny Willett of England was a stroke back, also through 13 holes at Golf Club Milano next to Monza’s Formula One circuit.

Clubhouse leader Richard Green, Chris Hanson and Alexander Levy were at 8-under, a shot clear of Andy Sullivan and defending champion Rikard Karlberg, who didn’t start his second round.


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