Uribe leads halfway through Aussie Women's Open

The Colombian opened with a birdie after teeing off on the par-4 10th and made four more at Royal Canberra, including at the sixth and seventh as she moved to 15-under 131.

Two-time British Open-winner Shin fired eight birdies against two bogeys for a 67, sharing second with 15-year-old amateur Ko, who followed an opening 63 with a 69.

Ko had five birdies but squandered a chance to retain a share of the lead with a bogey on the par-4 14th.

"I just thought 6-iron would be the club and I hit it well, but it just took a big bounce and it went straight over the green," she said.

Uribe, who turned pro in 2009, is chasing her first LPGA title and played a blemish-free round to follow her 64 Thursday.

She had a chance to extend her lead, but lipped out with a birdie putt on her second-to-last hole, then narrowly missed another on her final hole — the par-4 9th — after just avoiding a fairway bunker with her tee shot.

"I saw it was a good bounce, and that's the way it's been this week," Uribe said of her drive on No. 9. "I believe in things that are meant to be and I feel it's meant to be for me to play good this week. Hopefully it stays like that for the weekend."