Lydia Ko has put her putting woes from yesterday well behind her, and after dropping a shot on the first hole this morning she has gone on to post seven  birdies and an eagle to take the outright lead after 11 holes of the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open at Clearwater.

Several of her birdies were from sinking tricky 12 foot plus putts as she becomes more accustomed to the slower greens compared with last week in Melbourne.

Almost matching Ko for the best round of the morning  is Italy’s Giulia Sergas who was five under through her first 12 holes, having started on the 10^th.

Rolex World No.1 Ko is on track to match or better the existing tournament course record at Clearwater.  The current record is nine-under-par, 63 which was shot by last year’s champion Mi Hyang Lee.

Ko now sits alone at the top of the leaderboard at 10-under-par and one clear of Sergas, with England’s Charley Hull at 8-under-par.