Smith leads, Ko struggles

Sarah Jane Smith seized the outright lead at the Australian Women's Open as world No. 1 Lydia Ko scraped past the cut yesterday.

Smith, 32, carded a six-under 67 to lead an overseas quartet of Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum, Americans Lizette Salas and Marissa Steen along with Sweden's Caroline Hedwall by one stroke on nine-under 137.

Ko shot a 75 as she made the cut by one shot and is nine shots from the lead. World No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn (144)is lying joint 49th. - AFP