Brooke Henderson remains in contention at women's PGA Championship

Brooke Henderson of Smith Falls, Ont., shot 69 in the second round on Friday and is in a group tied for 8th at the KPMG women's PGA Championship in Olympia Fields, Ill.  

Henderson, the defending champion, followed up her 3-under-par 68 in the first round and will head into the weekend two shots off the lead. 

Meanwhile, Danielle Kang, who won back-to-back majors as an amateur but has never cracked the winner's circle in her half-dozen years as a pro, took a step in the right direction. 

The 24-year-old grabbed a share of the lead at 7 under. Her biggest hurdle could well be co-leader Sei Young Kim, the LPGA Tour's 2015 Rookie of the Year and already a six-time winner.

Kang and Kim each shot 66.

First-round leader Amy Yang (71), Chella Choi (70), Brittany Lincicome (66), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (66) and Mi Hyang Lee (67) were another stroke back in a tie for third. 

So Yeon Ryu (68), who climbed to No. 1 in the world ranking after a victory last week and won the LPGA Tour's first major of the season, was at 5 under along with Henderson, Moriya Jutanugarn (68) and Sarah Jane Smith (67).

Lydia Ko shot 68 to put herself back in contention at 4 under.

Kang, the U.S. Women's Amateur champion in 2010-11, conceded she didn't have a game plan after her last practice round at Olympia Fields Country Club, one of several venues that previously hosted men's majors now being tested by the women.