Seven birdies: Minjee Lee's bold bid for 11th LPGA win

Sweden's Lindblad had a career-best 63 to get to 13 under, alongside South Africa's major winner Buhai (68).

With 10 LPGA titles to her name, including two majors, 28-year-old Lee is chasing a first victory since the BMW Ladies Championship in October, 2023.

But she has been thereabouts with two top-five finishes already this year, including a runner-up result at the Blue Bay LPGA last month. 

She won the LA Championship in 2019 when it was played at Wilshire Country Club. This tournament is being played at El Caballero because of renovations at Wilshire.

"I think just being in the right spot off the tee and, obviously, just hitting good iron shots into the greens," Lee said.

"Some of the greens are a little bit bigger, there are bigger landing spots."

Fellow Australians Hannah Green - gunning for her third straight LA Championship win - and Steph Kyriacou are also well in the title chase, sitting tied 20th at eight under after both shot 67s.

Countrywoman Hira Naveed (69, four under) also made the halfway cut but Cassie Porter (72, three under), Grace Kim (73, even), Sarah Kemp (71, one over), Karis Davidson (71, two over) and Gabriela Ruffels (75, five over) all missed out on weekend play.

The 25-year-old Lindblad is a former college star for LSU.

"I feel like if you put the work in, like eventually it's going to show up," said Lindblad.

"Obviously, it's hard to tell exactly when it's going to show up, but I feel like I've been working on good things in my golf game that I need to get better at.

"After a day like this, it shows that it paid off."

Buhai had a share of the lead for the second straight day after opening with a 63.

"It's always difficult to follow a low one, but I'm pretty happy how I played today," said Buhai, the 2022 Women's British Open winner.

"Pins were a little trickier, but still some that were gettable."