MEMPHIS — Brooks Koepka's decision to squeeze in one more tournament before next week's US Open was paying off Friday as the American grabbed the 36-hole lead at the St. Jude Classic. Koepka fired a three-under-par 67 at TPC Southwind in Memphis for a nine-under total of 131. He had a one-stroke lead over fellow American Austin Cook, who surged up the leaderboard with a six-under 64. New Zealand's Steven Alker led during the round, but faded late, finishing with a bogey at the par-three eighth followed by a double-bogey at the ninth in a 68 for 133. England's Greg Owen, who shared the overnight lead with Koepka and Ryan Palmer, signed for a 70 to join a group of seven players sharing fourth place on 134. Palmer posted a one-over 71 to fall into a tie for 11th. Koepka saw his form drop off after a solid start to the season that included a victory in the Phoenix Open. He added this week's tournament at the last minute in a bid to sharpen his game for the US Open, and said he was managing to stick to his game plan of playing less aggressive, more patient golf. “I'm just playing really solid,” Koepka said. “Not really too exciting, just playing solid golf — no mistakes.” Five-time major champion Phil Mickelson, also tuning up for a US Open tilt next week at Chambers Bay, posted a one-under 69 that left him three-under and six shots off Koepka's lead. Mickelson saw a few birdie chances just fail to fall, but said he couldn't call the greens unfair. “They don't owe me anything,” he said. “They're trickier because they're fast.” Kim leads, Ko misses cut South Korean Kim Sei-young eagled the par-five 15th hole Friday en route to a five-under-par 68 and the halfway lead in the Women's PGA Championship at Harrison, as world No. 1 Lydia Ko missed the cut. Kim's eight-under total of 138 gave her a one-stroke lead over Australian Hall of Famer Karrie Webb and two-time defending champion Park In-bee, also of South Korea. Webb birdied the 18th hole to cap a 71 and was joined on 139 by Park, who had five birdies in her five-under 68. Not only is Park trying to win a third straight title in the second women's major of the year — formerly known as the LPGA Championship — she's closing in on the world number one ranking of New Zealand teen Ko. Ko struggled to a three-over 76 for a two-over total of 148 and missed the cut for the first time in her pro career — ending her streak of 53 straight LPGA cuts made. Ko, 18, played her second nine in four-over 40. She teed off on 10 and was one-under for the day after two birdies and a bogey in her first nine holes. But a double-bogey six at the second hole was followed by bogeys at the third, fourth and sixth, and even a birdie at her penultimate hole left her one shot outside the cut line. Kim took the outright lead with her eagle at 15, finishing off the round with three pars. Webb started off with seven straight pars and then drained a birdie on eight. Another birdie on 12 pushed the veteran to seven-under, and after she followed a bogey at 16 with a birdie on 18 she was in the lead as she walked off the course. Webb and Park were one stroke in front of Canadian 17-year-old Brooke Henderson, who posted a 73, and Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who carded a 66. Overnight leader Shin carded a 75 and was joined on 141 by world number three Stacy Lewis, who signed for a 71. — Agencies
