Canada's Leblanc sits in 4th at JTBC as Koerstz Madsen guns for 2nd win in a row

Nanna Koerstz Madsen shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead in the JTBC Classic in a bid to win in consecutive starts.

"I have confidence out there," Koerstz Madsen said. "I've made a lot of good putts out there. Today, I hit love more fairways, which made me able to set up more birdie chances. A lot of good stuff."

A stroke behind top-ranked Jin Young Ko after an opening 66, Koerstz Madsen got off to fast starts on both nines in her morning round. She said she feels more comfortable and relaxed after the breakthrough victory in Thailand.

"Especially, on the first tee," Koerstz Madsen said. "I don't know, it just changes you a little bit I guess having a win on your back, especially so recently."

She birdied four of the first five, dropped a stroke on the par-5 eighth and reeled off three more birdies on the first four holes on the back nine. She gave back a shot with a bogey on the par-5 17th.

"As long as I'm doing what I can do, then that's good for me," Koerstz Madsen said. "If I stay positive out there, then I'm happy with that."

Lydia Ko (67) and Hye-Jin Choi (68) and were 9 under, and Jin Young Ko (71) was another stroke back with Na Rin An (67) and Canada's Maude-Aimee Leblanc (68).

WATCH | Leblanc sits 4th heading into the 3rd round:

Leblanc, a native of Sherbrooke, Que., sits tied for fourth heading into the third round on Saturday.

It was a tough day on the course for Maddie Szeryk, of London, Ont., who shot a 6-over 78 and did not make the cut.

Coming off a victory three weeks ago in Singapore, Jin Young Ko extended her tour record for consecutive sub-par rounds to 32, but her run of rounds in the 60s ended at 16.

"I tried to hit it 60s, but I couldn't," Jin Young Ko said. "I don't know what