Chella Choi leads in Canada; Lydia Ko 2 strokes back

Published Aug. 26, 2016 12:02 a.m. ET

foxsports

PRIDDIS, Alberta (AP) Three-time champion Lydia Ko was back on the Canadian Pacific Women's Open leaderboard. Canadian star Brooke Henderson got left behind after a late start.

The top-ranked Ko shot a 5-under 67 on Thursday at Priddis Greens in the round delayed for nearly three hours because of lightning, leaving her two strokes behind leader Chella Choi.

The 18-year-old Henderson was 1 under with three holes left when play was suspended because of darkness. Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ontario, beat Ko in a playoff in June in the KPMG Women's PGA Championship for her first major title, and successfully defended her Cambia Portland Classic title in early July.

Choi was 7 under with four holes left. Celebrating her 26th birthday, the South Korean player made consecutive birdies on the par-5 18th and first holes and also birdied the par-4 second and fourth.

Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow was a stroke back after a 66. France's Karine Icher - playing alongside Choi - was 6 under with four holes left.

Ko has won the event three of the last four years, the first two as an amateur. The 19-year-old New Zealander has four LPGA Tour victories this season, winning the ANA Inspiration for her second major title.