Annika Sorenstam battles former NHL star Jeremy Roenick for the lead at the LPGA’s Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, while Ayaka Furue is caught atop the professionals’ leaderboard by Lydia Ko

LPGA legend Annika Sorenstam has been no stranger to the leaderboard throughout her career heading into the weekend, but what she may not be familiar with is former NHL and MLB stars hot on her heels.

The retired golfer, 53, retained her position at the top of the celebrity division at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, where LPGA winners from the past two seasons play alongside a field of celebrities, after the second round.

Meanwhile, Ayaka Furue tied with Lydia Ko at the top of the LPGA professional leaderboard at the event.

Two years ago, 10-time major winner Sorenstam was shockingly eliminated by MLB pitcher Derek Lowe in a playoff and she has seemingly not let go of the result, chasing a victory on her home course of Lake Nona in Orlando, Florida.

But despite putting in another impressive round to top the leaderboard with 75 points, history could repeat itself.

Lydia Ko joined Akaya Furue at the top of the Professional Division at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions after the second round in Orlando, Florida

Two years ago, Sorenstam lost to Derek Lowe, who is currently third, in a play-off

She was joined by Jeremy Roenick in a tie for first place after the second round, with the former Chicago Blackhawks center scoring 39 points on Friday to take the wave in a big way.

Meanwhile, her former nemesis Lowe is hot on their heels after the ex-pitcher clawed his way onto the board to move four points clear of the leaders.

Sorenstam was almost clear in her first round, but on Friday she was forced to battle just as hard on the course as she battled the elements during the afternoon showers, ending her day with two great up and down made par saves to tie with Roenick.

“I’d say today was a good scramble day,” she said. ‘It was a real mess there. I didn’t hit as many good shots as I did yesterday. I just didn’t give up. Kept fighting. Missed a few more greens. Had to do some chipping today. I just hung there.”

Last year Brooke Henderson took the trophy in Orlando after a wire-to-wire match and this year it could be Furue’s turn.

After sleeping on the first-round lead, the 23-year-old made her first bogey of the tournament on the par-three fourth, but rallied on the back nine with two birdies.

However, after failing to repeat her explosive round from day one, Furue was forced to share her lead with Ko, who shot an impressive five-under 67 to tie the Japanese star for the week at eight under.

“I think the course and the greens and the fairways are a little softer than yesterday, and I couldn’t really match my putt and shots, everything, so yeah, I struggled quite a bit today,” Furue said.

The Swede was joined by Jeremy Roenick in a tie for first place after round two with 75 points

She was almost clear in her first round, but on Friday she had to battle the course

Furue failed to replicate her explosive round from day one and now shares her lead

LPGA standout Ko entered her 2024 season wanting to bounce back after, like Nelly Korda, failing to live up to expectations last year, and the New Zealander did just that to put herself in contention en route to the weekend.

Ko won three times in 2022 to gain entry into this week’s event, but she failed to win on tour in 2023.

However, the former world number 1 teamed up with Jason Day to win December’s Grant Thornton Invitational – a mixed team exhibition in Florida – and her winning ways look set to continue into the new year.

“I think Grant Thornton helped a lot. We did a lot of good work the week before when my coach flew over and spent some time here at Lake Nona,” said Ko, who recently moved to Orlando.

“Even though it was a unique format at Grant Thornton, I think it was a really useful week for me to be in positions where I didn’t feel comfortable and still be able to dedicate myself to my shots.”

She carded three birdies and made a 10-foot putt on the par-five ninth hole to join Furue at the top of the leaderboard.

“I tried to keep it simple and give myself a lot of good chances, and I gave myself a lot of birdie chances, so I feel like I missed a few,” she said.

Ko carded three birdies and sank a 10-foot putt on the par-five ninth hole for Eagle

The pair are two shots ahead of Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez, who posted a four-under 68 and a one-under 71 respectively on day two.

However, Danielle Kang had a round as miserable as the afternoon downpour.

Kang, a former Tournament of Champions winner, had started Thursday with a four-under 68 and was tied for fourth alongside Ally Ewing, but the California native was grateful the season opener was a limited no-cut event used to be .

She shot seven-over during Friday’s second round, leaving her three-over for the tournament.