Entries have now closed for the 2015 Ricoh Women’s British Open field at Trump Turnberry Resort, Scotland, July 30 to August 2.

Seventeen year old Canadian Brooke Henderson turned professional at the end of 2014 and, with only limited playing rights, has stormed up the rankings. The native of Smiths Falls, Ont., currently sits at No.46 on the Rolex Rankings. Henderson’s impressive professional debut has resulted in the Championship Committee awarding her a special exemption into the 2015 Championship.

Henderson commented, “I am so excited to play in my first Ricoh Women’s British Open and I am very grateful to the Championship Committee for granting me this opportunity. I played in the 2012 Ladies British Amateur at Carnoustie and I absolutely loved visiting Scotland so I am super excited to be heading back there again. I really enjoyed the different challenges of playing links golf in Scotland and, now that I have gained a little more experience, I think I will enjoy it even more. I can’t wait to get to the Trump Turnberry Resort.”

All of the current top-20 on the Rolex World Ranking, along with all of the current top-20 on both the LPGA Race to the CME Globe and the LET Order of Merit, are in the field for the 39th playing of the Championship. The impressive field will be competing for a prize fund of £1,990,266 (US $3 million).

Mo Martin, the 2014 Champion, has the tough task of defending her title against a field including all of the world’s best players. The entry list includes World No.1 Inbee Park, World No.2 Lydia Ko, World No.3 Stacy Lewis, World No 12 Lexi Thompson, defending U.S. Open Champion Michelle Wie, Ricoh Ambassadors Paula Creamer and Charley Hull, Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, the 2009 Champion and English legend Dame Laura Davies.

The star-studded field is also the most international of the five women’s majors with 23 nationalities already represented in the field to be finalized at the conclusion of final qualifying on Monday 27th July at Irvine Golf Club.

Australian veteran Karrie Webb claimed the Women’s British Open title in 2002 when the Championship last visited Turnberry.

The Ricoh Women’s British Open was founded by the LGU in 1976 and has been staged in conjunction with IMG, the world’s largest sports marketing company, since 1984. The event has been co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET since 1994 and gained Major status in 2001.

The full list of confirmed entrants into the Championship, can be found here.

ROGERS, Ark. – Na Yeon Choi felt as if she had nothing to lose starring down her second shot on the par-5 18th hole at Pinnacle Country Club.

The eight-time LPGA Tour winner certainly played without a sense of fear throughout her second round at the NW Arkansas Championship on Saturday, matching her career best with an 8-under 63 to surge to the top of the leaderboard.

Choi reached 13 under overall after sinking a 45-foot eagle putt on the 525-yard final hole, a shot she set up with a fearless 3-wood approach shot to the elevated green.

“I got the 3-wood out first, then changed it to a pitching wedge and then back to a 3-wood because there is a small gap to the right side of the green,” Choi said. “… I mean, I couldn’t hit a 3-wood if today is Sunday, but today’s Saturday, and I feel good about my swing so I just hit it.”

Choi had reason to feel comfortable at Pinnacle, where she’s never shot above par in 23 career rounds and has finished in the top 10 in each of the last four years.

The South Korean will enter Sunday’s final round with a two-shot lead over Mi Jung Hur and Anna Nordqvist and in search of her ninth career LPGA title – her first since opening the year with a victory at the Coates Golf Championship.

“This course seems like it suits me, so I feel confidence,” Choi said.

In addition to Hur and Nordqvist at 11 under, several players enter the final round within striking distance – none more notable than defending champion and local favorite Stacy Lewis at 9 under overall.

The former Arkansas standout was also four shots off the lead entering the final round last year when she sank a seven-foot birdie putt on the final hole to earn her 11th career victory.

Lewis hasn’t won since, but she sank a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 17 on Saturday, and she followed that by capping her round with another birdie on the par-5 18th – much to the delight of the partisan gallery following her every shot at Pinnacle Country Club.

She finished with a second-round 65, doing so after an early round double bogey.

“I just stayed patient and finally hit some good shots and rolled the rock in there at the end,” Lewis said. “Those two putts on 17 and 18 were huge going into tomorrow, but it also gave the fans something to cheer about, too.”

While Lewis will enjoy the biggest spotlight on Sunday, she’ll have to catch Choi.

The South Korean’s second-round 8 under was one shot off the course record of 62, set in 2008 by both Angela Park and Jane Park. Also, Choi’s two-round total of 13-under par was one shot off the 36-hole record set by Veronica Felibert in 2012.

One South Korean who won’t be around for the final round is top-ranked Inbee Park, who missed her first cut in more than a year. Park shot a 1-over 72 to finish 1 under overall, the same score as Michelle Wie, who also missed the cut.

Hur opened the day by finishing her first round with a 63 to take the lead, and she followed with a second-round 68 to reach 11 under.

Nordqvist, who won the ShopRite LPGA Classic last month, also reached 11 under with a birdie on her final hole of the second round. She followed an opening 65 with a 66 on Saturday.

 Canada’s Rebecca Lee-Bentham carded an even-par 71 to make Sunday’s final round of the 54-hole tournament.

Alena Sharp missed the cut by two-strokes despite a second round of one-under 70. Sue Kim posted a 68 on the day and Jennifer Kirby shot 72, both missed the two-under cut.

ROGERS, Ark. – Azahara Munoz hasn’t been one to make excuses about her struggling golf game since surgery on her left hand to remove a benign tumor in March.

The Spaniard has, however, battled with confidence as her game has been slow in its return to form.

Following a much-needed week of practice and a mental reset of sorts, Munoz looked every bit like her 2010 LPGA Rookie of the Year self on Friday – shooting a 6-under 65 to earn a share of the clubhouse lead at the NW Arkansas Championship.

Munoz shared the clubhouse lead with Anna Nordqvist and Brittany Lincicome, though Mi Jung Hur was 8 under through 14 holes when play was suspended because of darkness.

Hur birdied her final five holes, hitting all but one green in regulation at the rain-hampered Pinnacle Country Club.

For Munoz, the round was her best in her seven tournaments following surgery.

“Last week, I finally said `This is it, it’s not going to happen again,'” Munoz said. “… I know I’m a good golfer, so eventually it’s going to come. Obviously, it’s going to take a little bit of time, but I know it’s going to come back.”

Friday’s round was delayed twice by strong storms and lightning, and 21 groups were unable to finish.

Lincicome and Nordqvist also shot 65s, and Na Yeon Choi also was 6 under after 14 holes. Ryann O’Toole finished with a 66, and Mariajo Uribe and Gerina Piller also were 5 under.

Top-ranked Inbee Park had a 69, and defending champion and local favorite Stacy Lewis was 4 under with three holes left.

While Park, who won her sixth major two weeks ago at the Women’s PGA Championship, struggled with her putter – needing 30 putts – Munoz needed only 27 putts.

It was her best round since taking six weeks off after surgery in March, after which she hasn’t finished higher than 30th. Prior to her surgery, Munoz finished no lower than 13th in her first four tournaments this year.

“It’s been a rough year; I was not having fun,” Munoz said. “This sounds stupid, but I almost felt that I was really unlucky that this happened to me … (It) was just six weeks, but for some reason I still go really down on myself.”

With her hand nearly feeling completely recovered on Friday following a setback-free week of practice, Munoz was at her best despite being delayed by almost four hours because of two weather delays. She was even par after a bogey on the par-4 fourth hole, but followed that with three straight birdies to close out the front nine.

Munoz then birdied three of her first five holes on the back nine to reach 6 under, nearly reaching 7 under when her 35-foot birdie attempt on the par-3 15th lipped out of the hole.

“It felt good, back to normal,” Munoz said.

Lincicome used three sand saves to help propel her to a bogey-free 65, while Nordqvist hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation while also posting a bogey-free round.

Lincicome reached 6 under following birdies on the seventh and eighth holes after beginning her round on the back nine, and her 15-foot birdie attempt which would have sent her to 7 under on the 9th came up inches short.

“Right when I hit it, I knew it wasn’t enough,” Lincicome said. “Especially when it’s on line, it’s kind of a bummer, but just happy to be finally done with the round.”

Canadian Rebecca Lee-Bentham posted a 2-under round of 69 today, while Alena Sharp shot 72. Sue Kim signed for a round of 74 and Jennifer Kirby shot 79.

Coquitlam, B.C. – Golf Canada in partnership with Canadian Pacific (CP) have announced that defending champion So Yeon Ryu will headline a list of seven past champions who have confirmed their intention to challenge for the US$2.25 million purse at the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.

Currently ranked No. 7 on the Rolex World Ranking, Ryu played near flawless golf last August at the London Hunt and Country Club to capture the inaugural Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. A three-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Ryu’s 23-under tournament total in 2014 set a new event scoring record in relation to par.

Also confirming her intention to compete for Canada’s National Women’s Open title will be two-time champion Lydia Ko (2012 & 2013), the current World No. 2 who made history at The Vancouver Golf Club in 2012 when she captured her first LPGA Tour victory as a 15-year old amateur.

In addition to Ryu (2014) and Ko (2012 & 2013), other past champions set to compete include World No. 5 Suzann Pettersen (2009), World No. 8 Brittany Lincicome (2011), World No. 12 Cristie Kerr (2006), World No. 14 Michelle Wie (2010) and Katherine Hull (2008).

“We’re two months away from the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and we are very pleased with how our field is coming together,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director, Brent McLaughlin. “We are fortunate to have a terrific history of champions and I know it will be especially exciting for Vancouver golf fans to welcome Lydia Ko back to The Vancouver Golf Club for the first time since her amazing win in 2012.”

Golf Canada also confirmed that 17-year old Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont. has been granted an exemption to compete in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.  Henderson, a member of Golf Canada’s Young Pro Squad and currently the No. 51 ranked player in the world, will be making her fourth consecutive appearance in Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship. In her first year as a professional, the former World No. 1 ranked amateur has amassed $317,470 in LPGA earnings including $132,725 for her tie for 5^th finish this past weekend at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Brooke Henderson (David Cannon/ Getty Images)

“Brooke has had an outstanding start to her pro career and it comes as no surprise that she has earned an exemption to compete in Canada’s National Women’s Open for the fourth time,” said McLaughlin.  “She’s a special player and a terrific ambassador for Canadian golf and I’m sure she’ll be fan favourite once again at The Vancouver Golf Club.”

Henderson will lead a Canadian contingent that also includes four-time LPGA Tour winner and Canadian Pacific ambassador Lorie Kane of Charlottetown as well as LPGA Tour players Alena Sharp of Hamilton, Ont. Sue Kim of Langley, B.C. and Rebecca Lee-Bentham of Toronto.

Additional Canadian and international exemptions into the National Women’s Open Championship will be announced in the coming weeks. A field of 156 competitors will vie for the  US$2.25 million purse when the CP Women’s Open makes its return to The Vancouver Golf Club.

Community Impact…

The 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is proud to support BC Children’s Hospital as the 2015 charity beneficiary of this year’s event.

Funds raised this year will be dedicated to the pediatric cardiology research program.

As part of its community investment program CP Has Heart, CP is matching all online donations through www.bcchf.ca/cphasheart until August 23. Fan and player favourite, Birdies for Heart, also returns this year with CP committed to donating $5,000 for every birdie made on the 17th hole. In 2014, Birdies for Heart raised more than $320,000 for charity during tournament week.

Free Admission for Juniors…

Golf Canada and CP are proud to offer free admission to the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to any spectator aged 17 and under. In addition to free admission for juniors, parents can take advantage of discounted tickets by visiting www.cpwomensopen.com/tickets and using promo code “junior”.

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

COQUITLAM, B.C. – Lorie Kane is primed for a busy summer on home soil.

The Charlottetown golfer will compete in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at Vancouver Golf Club in August, but before that she will represent her country at next month’s Pan Am Games in Toronto.

“I’ve been joking that I might be the oldest chick in the (athletes’) village,” said the 50-year-old Kane. “I get excited when the Olympics roll around, be it winter or summer. We as Canadians, that’s what we learn to watch.

“Now to have an opportunity to be a part of that, it’s going to be really exciting.”

At the Pan Ams, Kane will team up with Brooke Henderson, the 17-year-old from Smiths Falls, Ont., who tied for fifth this past weekend at KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and has been making waves in the golf world.

“We have one goal and that is to win as many medals as we possibly can first and foremost,” Kane said after Monday’s Canadian Pacific Women’s Open media event. “Brooke and I will do the best to represent the best we can.”

Kane has made just two starts this season, missing both cuts, but was encouraged by her performance at the Manulife LPGA Classic in Waterloo, Ont., earlier this month.

“It may shock people if I say that (my game is) probably the best its been,” said Kane. “People judge by results and I do too, but I saw a lot of good things happen at Manulife. I just need to get into some more tournaments. Unfortunately my (ranking) isn’t great, but we will get some tournaments coming up here.”

Apart from the thrill of trying to win a medal for her country, Kane said that playing at the Pan Ams will hopefully get her in good form heading to the national championship at Vancouver Golf Club.

“The Pan Ams will be great for me,” she said. “That will be four rounds that I can play and really test things and see how I’m doing. I’d like to be peaking in August. I really think I can still challenge to win and that’s my ultimate goal.”

Kane has earned nearly US$7 million in her career, but has not won an LPGA event since 2001. She has been amazed at the rise of players like Henderson and 18-year-old Lydia Ko, who won the Canadian title in 2012 as an amateur at Vancouver Golf Club and will return in 2015.

Ko also won the 2013 Canadian title at Royal Mayfair Golf Club in Edmonton.

“You can’t hold them back,” said Kane. “They’re old beyond their days. Ya they have no fear, but they’re very tactical in what they do and how they play the game.

“The tour is so deep that any player can win on any given day.”

VANCOUVER – Canadian Pacific (CP), Golf Canada and the LPGA Tour announced today that CP has extended its title sponsorship of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open for an additional two years, through 2018. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

As title sponsor of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, CP is committed to raising charitable dollars in the event’s host community through the CP Has Heart campaign in support of children’s heart health. Extending its title sponsorship through 2018 will allow CP to increase its charitable support of children’s heart health in the name of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship.

“CP is proud to extend its partnership with Golf Canada as title sponsor of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and looks forward to continuing to make a difference in the host communities across the country,” said CP’s CEO E. Hunter Harrison. “Our support of the National Women’s Open has become a cornerstone of our community investment program, CP Has Heart, through which we have assisted a number of heart healthy programs from coast-to-coast.”

CP assumed title sponsorship of Canada’s National Women’s Open in November, 2013 with the inaugural Canadian Pacific Women’s Open conducted at London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont. in 2014. This year’s 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open will be played August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club while the 2016 event will return to the Priddis Greens Golf and Country Club in Calgary.

“On behalf of Golf Canada, the LPGA Tour and Canadian golf fans from coast to coast, I want to thank CP, and especially CEO Hunter Harrison, for continuing to align their respected brand with our National Women’s Open Golf Championship,” said Golf Canada CEO Scott Simmons. “CP has become a driving force in supporting Canadian golf and we are thrilled to continue our partnership on the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open through 2018.”

In addition to its title sponsorship of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, CP has also partnered with Golf Canada in support of the National Amateur Team program – Team Canada – as well as Canada’s National Amateur Championships.  As part of its investment in Canadian golf, CP has also aligned its brand with the Golf Canada Foundation in becoming a Founding Partner of the

Team Canada Young Pro program which launched in 2014 and currently support six of Canada’s top up and coming professionals.

The $2.25 million USD Canadian Pacific Women’s Open is a premier event on the LPGA Tour schedule which draws arguably the strongest field on the Tour.

“For our players, this championship has become a must-play event with great hospitality as well as great history,” said LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan.  “Our success is based on partnerships and I’d like to congratulate both Canadian Pacific and Golf Canada on this two year title sponsorship extension.  With CP’s help, we’re proud to continue showcasing the LPGA Tour to millions of golf fans in Canada, across North American and around the world.”

First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

HARRISON, N.Y.  – Inbee Park won her third consecutive Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday – and accomplished a whole lot more.

Park also regained the No. 1 ranking in the word, surpassed idol Se Ri Pak for the most majors by a South Korean player with six, tied the LPGA Tour record for the lowest score in a major in relation to par at 19 under and, in her own mind, cemented a place in women’s golf history.

“Obviously, putting my name alongside like Annika Sorenstam or Patty Berg, legends of golf, just being a part of history of this golf tournament, I feel extremely honored, and I can’t believe that I just did it,” Park said.

The 26-year-old Park closed with a bogey-free 5-under 68 at Westchester Country Club, finishing the season’s second major five strokes ahead of 22-year-old compatriot Sei Young Kim. Park had 22 birdies and only three bogeys in 72 holes.

“I played great the last three days,” she said. “I couldn’t believe myself. I made no bogeys for three days.”

Park and Sorenstam (2003-2005) are only players to win the event previously called the LPGA Championship three consecutive years. It also was Park’s fifth victory in the last 12 majors.

Park won the previous two years in playoffs in Pittsford, New York, taking the 2013 event at Locust Hill and the 2014 tournament at Monroe Golf Club.

Park birdied the par-5 final hole. She chipped her third shot to 5 feet, then sank the putt and threw her arms in the air as a fan yelled “Three-peat!”

It was her 56th consecutive hole without a bogey.

Kim, a two-time winner this season as a rookie, started the day two strokes back. She bogeyed the third and the fourth holes, then reeled off four consecutive birdies, holing a long putt on the eighth to pull within a shot of the lead.

That was as close as she would get.

A three-stroke swing on the ninth hole put Park in charge. She made a birdie putt, then watched as Kim three-putted for double bogey. Kim finished with a 71.

“Everything fell apart at the ninth hole,” Kim said through an interpreter.

Lexi Thompson was third at 12 under after a 66. She had eight birdies on her first 13 holes.

Thompson pulled within two strokes with her birdie on the 13th. But she missed a chance on the par-5 15th hole, hitting her tee shot well right and scrambled to make par. She then bogeyed the 16th to end her chances.

“(I) just take a lot of positives from it knowing that I can pull off a round on Sunday here,” Thompson said. “It means a lot and I’m going to take a lot of confidence going into my upcoming tournaments.”

Brittany Lincicome, the winner of the first major of the year at the ANA Inspiration, finished fourth at 11 under. She birdied the final hole for a 68.

Seventeen-year-old Canadian Brooke Henderson tied for fifth with Morgan Pressel at 10 under. Her $132,725 check will help in Henderson’s bid to earn a tour card for next year. She needs to either win a tournament or finish with the equivalent of the 40th player on the money list to avoid qualifying school after being denied an age exemption.

Fellow Canadian Alena Sharp signed for a final round 76 to finish tied for 65th.

The shot of the day came from Hyo Joo Kim with a hole-in-one on the 149-yard 14th hole. She finished with a 71 to tie for ninth at 8 under.

With No. 1 Lydia Ko missing the cut for the first time in 54 tries, No. 2 Park needed to finish just 29th or better to retake the top spot she last held in February. It will be her third stay at the top of the rankings. She was to the No. 1 for 59 weeks in 2013.

Park earned $525,000 for her third LPGA Tour victory of the season and 15th overall.

She joined Sorenstam, Pak, Patty Sheehan, Nancy Lopez, Kathy Whitworth and Mickey Wright as the only players to win the event at least three times. Wright won it four times.

“I think I always dreamed myself being a part of history, leaving my name, even before I die, there is my name on this trophy” Park said. “There’s a name on the U.S. Open trophy. There’s my name on great championships.”

HARRISON, N.Y. – South Korean stars Inbee Park and Sei Yong Kim added another chapter to their friendly rivalry on Saturday.

Park shot a 7-under 66 and overtook Kim on the final hole to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Kim, a rookie who came into the day with a one-stroke lead, shot a 69. The two had battled all afternoon each went into the final hole at 13-under par. But Park, who needed just 28 putts Saturday, made her seventh birdie of the day on 18, and Kim missed a 4-foot putt for par.

The 26-year-old Park said her experience in winning this tournament each of the last two years may give her a bit of an advantage Sunday over her 22-year-old countrywoman. Kim has won twice this season, but will be looking for her first major championship on Sunday.

“It feels like the first time is always hard, always hard to do and it puts extra pressure on yourself,” Park said. “But when you’re trying to do the second, third time in a row, it just feels like you’ve done your homework already. So you feel a little bit more relaxed and you kind of know how it feels like and how it’s going to play like.”

Kim said she plans to use the bogey on the 18th as “medicine” on Sunday to help her get better.

She also has a recent history that should give her some confidence. Kim beat Park at the Lotte Open in Hawaii by chipping in to force a playoff and holing out from 154 yards on the first sudden-death hole.

“Well, that’s a past story,” Kim said. “I want to write a new story tomorrow.”

A win here could allow Park to catch top-ranked Lydia Ko in the rankings. Ko missed the cut on Friday, ending her streak of 53 consecutive made cuts.

Park could also tie Annika Sorenstam (2003-05), who is the only golfer who has claimed this title in three consecutive years, an accomplishment Park would list among the most impressive in her career.

“I have to say it would be pretty close to winning three majors in a row,” she said. “That was my biggest accomplishment ever in my career, but if I’m able to do this tomorrow, I think that will definitely be like tied for first.”

Kim and Park will go into Sunday with some separation from the rest of the pack. Suzann Pettersen and 17-year-old Canadian sensation Brooke Henderson each shot a 71. They ended tied with Hall of Famer Karrie Webb for third place at 8-under par, six strokes back of Park.

Henderson is attempting to become the youngest winner of a major championship. She is also looking for a win that would assure her a spot on the Tour next year after being denied an age exemption.

“This year is definitely a learning experience for me,” she said. “It’s a year where I’m trying to play my best and get my card for next year … whether it’s the money list or the win this year, or go to Q-School. My goal is to have full status next year.”

At the other end of the spectrum is Webb. The 40-year-old is attempting to become the second-oldest winner in the 60 year history of the event. Webb was in second place to start the day, but had to overcome bogeys on her first two holes to shoot a 72. She will be trying to win her eighth major.

“If I had told you I was going to shoot 1-under today, I wouldn’t have thought I was going to be six behind,” she said. “It’s going to take a big round tomorrow from me and probably some help from the leaders.

Pettersen is on a hot streak after winning last week in Ontario, for her 15th tour victory, her first since October 2013.

Morgan Pressel is in sixth place. She went 5-under on the back nine to finish a round of 69, including an eagle after on 18.

“When I got to the 18th tee and I saw that the tee was moved up a little bit, plus it was downwind, I said to my caddie, I said definitely we can get there today if we hit a good drive and I did,” she said.

Brittany Lincicome, who won the first LPGA major of the year at the ANA Inspiration, moved into contention and a three-way tie for seventh place.

After dropping two strokes the first eight holes, she made five consecutive birdies on the ninth through 13 holes. The 29-year-old American picked up a sixth on the 15th hole and had a birdie putt lip out on No. 17. She finished with a 69.

“I always like to be coming from behind,” she said. “I don’t like leading after two or three rounds because it makes me more nervous, I have to do more interviews and there’s more attention, so if I’m coming from behind and chasing people, it seems to be more of my comfort zone.”

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp shot a 2-over 75 and is tied for 47th entering Sunday. Sharp is 2-over for the tournament.

HARRISON, N.Y. – Sei Young Kim of South Korea has already won twice in her rookie season on the LPGA Tour.

Now the 22-year-old is taking aim at a major title, making an eagle on the 15th hole for a 5-under 68 Friday and a one-shot lead after the second round of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

Kim overtook Hall-of-Famer Karrie Webb, who birdied the 18th for a 71. Kim, who turned pro in 2010 and played on the LPGA of Korea Tour, shot bogey-free golf to finish at 8-under 138 at the Westchester Country Club.

“My goal for this year is to become top five,” Kim said through an interpreter, “and if I win a major, I could be one step closer.”

Two-time defending champion Inbee Park (68) joined Webb a stroke back.

Suzann Pettersen rallied with seven birdies for the best round of the day at 66 and tied Canadian teenager Brooke Henderson (73) at 6 under. Overnight leader Jenny Shin (75) and third-ranked Stacy Lewis (71) were three shots behind the leader.

Pettersen improved her score from the opening round by eight shots, making seven birdies from No. 5 to No. 15. Coached by Butch Harmon, Pettersen was coming off a win in Canada.

“I felt my speed of the greens was a little bit off yesterday. But stuck to the game plan,” she said. “I didn’t practice much after. I’m right where I want to be.”

Top-ranked Lydia Ko (76) missed the cut, which was 2 over, ending her streak of 53 consecutive made cuts. She had a double bogey on No. 2 to start her day and finished with four bogeys and three birdies.

“I just made a double and just couldn’t get anything turned around,” said the 18-year-old from New Zealand. “I missed a lot of 9-footers. I made two good putts the last two holes; it was already kind of too late.”

Kim won LPGA Tour events in the Bahamas and Hawaii this year. She said she likes the West Course, and watched a talented male pro play on the longtime home of the PGA Tour event now called The Barclays.

“I was inspired by Tiger Woods, how he was able to make shots and shot-making,” Kim said.

The 40-year-old Webb had three birdies and a bogey on the par-3 16th on another steamy day with temperatures in the 80s, which helped dry the greens. She hit her pitch shot within 5 feet on the par-5, 525-yard final hole.

“Nice to finish with a birdie on the last,” Webb said. “It was a little bit more difficult today. I think the greens really dried out a little bit. It was still quite challenging to get the ball close to the hole.”

The 17-year-old Henderson had five birdies and five bogeys in an up-and-down round with her father Dave as caddie. After three-putting on her final hole Thursday to finish a shot behind Shin, she bogeyed two of the first five holes on Friday.

She hit her approach shot at No. 17 within 8 feet for a possible birdie putt and a tie for the lead, but it ran past on the right.

“I didn’t have my A game,” said Henderson, playing in her fourth major. “I hit a lot of shots just really close to being really good but would just roll off the back because the greens. Just one of those days you have to learn from and move on.”

Henderson, who turned pro in December, is playing on a sponsor exemption because she is below the LPGA Tour’s age requirement of 18.

“It’s really exciting seeing my name up there with Stacy Lewis and Karrie Webb and all the big names,” she said. “It’s awesome. I think I just have to stay patient, stay consistent and keep working on my game and I think good things will happen.”

After shooting a bogey-free, 7-under 66 Thursday for a one-stroke lead after the opening round, Shin needed nine more shots on Friday. The 22-year-old Shin, who is seeking her first major, started on No. 10 and eagled the par-5, 525 yard 18th hole. But she had bogeys on Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 8, with a birdie on No. 7, to finish the front nine at 39.

“I wanted to shoot under par and try to get away from everybody as much as possible and do the Jordan Spieth and win by like 10 shots,” Shin said. “But I was so frustrated, and I think that’s one of the reasons why I made so many bogeys.”

Lewis recovered from a double bogey on No. 2 with consecutive birdies on the sixth and seventh holes and capped her round with a tap-in birdie at the 18th.

“I think the officials didn’t quite like the 7 under they saw yesterday, so the golf course was set up a lot tougher,” said Lewis, a two-time major winner. “It played more like a major, which I like.”

Lexi Thompson, Cristie Kerr, and British teenager Charley Hull were in a group at 4 under. Hull, tied for the lead at 8 under at the 12th, bogeyed four of the last six holes to finish at 74.

Michelle Wie, bothered by ankle and hip injuries, birdied the 18th for a 72 to make the cut.

Canadian Alena Sharp shot a 1-over-par 74 today to make it to the weekend. Rebecca Lee-Betham shot a round of even par today but missed the cut along with fellow Canadian Sue Kim.