Mina Harigae and Georgia Hall shared the lead after the second round of the Women's Open at Carnoustie.

American Harigae carded a brilliant 67 on Friday to surge up the leaderboard, with three birdies in her first six holes setting up a strong day.

The 31-year-old had missed the cut in four of her seven majors on United Kingdom soil but ensured she would go into the weekend at the summit after a second successive birdie at the formidable 18th.

She sat alongside Hall at seven under par, the Englishwoman having shot a 69 despite a double bogey at the par-four 15th.

"I'm a much better golfer the last 12 months, I've been playing well," Harigae said. "I just feel like I'm in a good place.

"It was definitely a little softer out there and I thought it was a little breezier than when I played yesterday afternoon.

"So I didn't think it was easy conditions, but also I know it can be a lot tougher."

Abbey Road, @carnoustiegolf edition?#WorldClass #AIGWO pic.twitter.com/m0h9CgQV67
— AIG Women’s Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 20, 2021

Kim Sei-young, one of the three to share the overnight lead after round one, was just a stroke further back, level with Lizette Salas.

World number one Nelly Korda and Madelene Sagstrom, who had matched Kim at five under on Thursday, each fell three strokes behind the leaders after second-round 73s.

The best round of the day belonged to Megan Khang, who made the cut at one under after a stunning round of 66 that included five birdies from the 11th to the 18th – a spectacular improvement on her opening-round 77.