Olympic women’s golf leaderboard: Stacy Lewis, Brooke Henderson surge into spotlight with record rounds

In the second round of the Olympic women’s golf event, North America stole the show.

While South Korea’s Inbee Park fired another 5-under-par 66 to sit on top at the tournament’s midway point, the story of the day was an American and Canada’s teen-phenom-turned-superstar vaulting up the leaderboard. American and two-time major championship winner Stacy Lewis set a new Olympic record of 63 on Tuesday, while 18-year-old and 2016 Women’s PGA Champion Brooke Henderson turned in a 7-under-par 64. They’ll each start Friday’s third round one and two shots off Park’s lead, respectively.

While Lewis turned in her 8-under-63 earlier in the day, Henderson’s low score came from a crazy late surge. After going out in just 33 and still well back of the lead, the Canadian teen poured in four birdies over the last five holes -- including the final four in order -- to post a career-low 64 and get within two shots of Park’s lead.

“I just felt more like myself, I felt better today,” Henderson told Golf Channel’s Steve Sands after the round. “A couple of things just changed overnight for me and now I’m just really looking forward to the next couple of days.”

While Henderson -- the 3rd-ranked player in the world -- surged, Thursday wasn’t as kind to the world’s two other top players. World number 2, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn wasn’t able to keep pace with her opening-round 64, firing only an even-par 71 on the day and falling four shots off Park’s lead. The world’s best player and the odds-on favorite coming in, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, sits at 3-under-par for the tournament after turning in a second round 1-under 70. She’s hardly out of contention but will need a solid round on Friday’s moving day to get back into medal contention during Saturday’s final round.

Here’s the full leaderboard from Rio after two rounds.