Minjee makes move as Kim leads BMW Ladies Championship

In-form Minjee Lee has made a big move to power once again into contention for a 12th LPGA Tour title.

Australia's world No.3 and player-of-the-year contender carded a second-round six-under-par 66 to climb from equal 21st into a tie for sixth at the Ladies BMW Championship in South Korea on Friday.

Lee collected six birdies in a bogey-free round of stellar ball-striking, finding 12 of 14 fairways and hitting 17 of 18 greens at the picture-perfect Pine Beach Golf Links.

Third last week in Shanghai, Lee is hoping to cut into Jeeno Thitikul's season-long points lead as Thailand's world No.1 sits out the sixth-last event of the year.

But home hope Sei Young Kim remains the player to catch on Korea's south-west coast after following up her first-round 62 with a 66 to reach 16 under.

Chasing a first LPGA Tour win in almost five years, the 2020 player of the season was slow out of the blocks, one over par through her first five holes.

But a hat-trick of birdies before the turn and another five on the back nine restored Kim's one-stroke lead over American Brookes Matthews at the halfway point of $US2.3 million, no-cut tournament.

Matthews' blemish-free 64 was the low round of the day and helped the 26-year-old into Saturday's final group alongside Kim and Japan's Rio Takeda, who is outright third at 13 under following her own second-round 66.

Another Japanese, Nasa Hataoka (65), and leader Kim's compatriot Hyo Joo Kim (69) are joint fourth at 12 under.

At 10 under, Lee shares fifth with Frenchwoman Celine Boutier (65), Japan's reigning British Open champion Miyu Yamashita (66), American Yealimi Noh (68) and Korea's former world No.1 Hye-Jin Choi (66).

At seven under and nine shots off the pace, defending champion Hannah Green (69) is back in a tie for 22nd with fellow Australians Steph Kyriacou (69) and Robyn Choi (67).