At Royal Liverpool last month, American Brian Harman, whose pastime is hunting wild animals when he's away from the golf course, sucked much of the drama out of the challenge for the Claret Jug as he took runaway control of the tournament and never released his grip.

Now at the Surrey course just south-west of London, another surprise player from the U.S deep south, Ally Ewing, appears to be taking the same path, leading by five shots on 10 under par at halfway – just as Harman did.

Not only that – but Mississippi's Ewing also revealed on Friday that, like Georgia's Harman, she too enjoys her hunting expeditions – mainly for deer.

But among the distant chasing pack, Australian star Lee, who's thrust herself back into the fray thanks to a three-under-par second round 69, reckons she's happy to be on the hunt herself over the weekend.

"She's playing amazing," the two-time major winner conceded of Ewing's performance, with the American having recorded 12 birdies and an eagle in her two rounds of 68 and 66.

"She's put two great scores up, and, yeah, we're all chasing her at the moment. So, I think we can be pretty aggressive, I can be pretty aggressive come the weekend," Lee said.

Minjee Lee sets up a birdie with a good chip shot on the par-5 16th hole. PHOTO: Getty Images.

Now tied for ninth and seven shots behind Ewing, Lee is still only two strokes behind the trio sharing second place at five under – England's Charley Hull, Japan's Minami Katsu and American Andrea Lee.

"Today was pretty steady, especially in the wind (that the afternoon swing had to put up with)," said Lee, who recorded just one bogey against four birdies in the more difficult conditions of the day.

"I drove it really well, put myself in really better positions. And probably a little bit disappointed in my shots into the greens, probably didn't hit it close enough for those birdie putt ranges.

"But we always have a weekend. So, yeah, I'm really looking forward to it."

The only other Australian left in the tournament is Grace Kim, who remained one under for the championship after a second round 72.

The Sydneysider's round had promised more when she reached three under after 12 holes but a double bogey six at the 13th halted her progress.

Grace Kim had an even par round to remain one under and T28 after 36 holes. PHOTO: Getty Images.

The remaining four Aussies – Steph Kyriacou (74), Sarah Kemp (77), Kelsey Bennett (76) and Hannah Green (76) – all missed the cut set at two over.

Two bogeys midway through the back nine proved costly for Kyriacou, who missed the cut by one stroke, while Bennett also seemed likely to play the weekend before she dropped four strokes in the last six holes to exit the tournament.

– Ian Chadband with AP