Stephanie Meadow moves up leaderboard at LPGA opener in Bahamas

Stephanie Meadow finished third at the US Women's Open in 2014

Stephanie Meadow moved up the leaderboard at the first event of the LPGA season thanks to a six-under-par 67 second round at the Pure Silk Bahamas Classic.

The Northern Irishwoman birdied seven of her opening 14 holes before her only dropped shot of the day at the 16th.

Her seven-under-par total left her 10 behind American Brittany Lincicome who added a 65 to her opening 64.

Lexi Thompson fired a 12-under-par 61 to move with a shot of Lincicome.

The leader's round included a hole in one at the 12th.

The American-dominated leaderboard has Gerina Piller in third place, three shots off the pace, with former world number one Stacy Lewis a further stroke.

Meadow, 24, showed signs of a return to form in the latter part of 2016 and she is sharing 20th spot in a group which included England's Melissa Reid heading into Saturday's third round.

The Jordanstown woman finished a superb third on her professional debut at the US Women's Open in 2014 but then suffered tragedy a year later when her father died after a battle with cancer.