Ryu Hae-ran has taken sole possession of the halfway lead at the AIG Women's Open, the final major championship of the LPGA season, putting her in position to capture a third consecutive LPGA major championship.

Through 36 holes at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in Lytham St Annes, England, the world No. 3 sits at seven-under 135. She carded a two-under 69 in the second round on Friday (local time), comprising five birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey. Ryu holds a two-stroke advantage over Japan's Shiho Kuwaki.

The South Korean stumbled early, dropping three shots across her first five holes with a bogey at the par-4 third and a double bogey at the par-3 fifth. She then mounted a steady recovery, collecting five birdies over the remainder of her round, including one at the demanding par-4 15th. Ryu was one of only four players in the second round to birdie that hole.

Ryu is attempting to become just the fifth LPGA player to win three majors in a single season. She previously captured the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June and the Amundi Evian Championship earlier in July. The last player to win three consecutive LPGA majors was South Korean legend Park In-bee, who accomplished the feat in 2013.

"Since I had an afternoon tee time, I had to deal with windy conditions early on," Ryu said. "But the wind died down as I played on the back nine, and it allowed me to pick up some birdies."

Joo Soo-bin is the next-highest South Korean on the leaderboard. She followed an opening-round 70 with a 69 to hold fifth place outright at three-under 139.

The cut was set at four-over par. South Korean teen amateur Yang Yun-seo made the cut on the number after posting a 76 in the second round.