The exception was Michelle Wie at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014…. The Stanford product was 2-over on Friday and is 5-over for the tournament. Now she’s in contention for her first U.S. Open title after failing to make the top 10 in her first four appearances. Halfway through the tournament, Park has put herself in prime position to contend.
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“I ended up coming home at 5 a.m., I think”, Ko said. “I thought I over-read (the line) again because that’s what I was doing the majority of the day”. But I just try and take deep breaths.My caddie, Jason and I, we kind of like to talk, so I’m a little bit more calm.
“It just shows how much this championship means to me and means to the women’s game, and how important it is for any player and what a big honor it is to be holding the trophy at the end of Sunday”. Pak announced during her pre-tournament press conference that this week would mark her last competitive tournament in the United States.
Marissa Chow, who played at ‘Iolani and Pepperdine, shot a 75 to finish 11 over. Former UK women’s golfer Mallory Blackwelder (2007-09) competed in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open.
Park had four birdies in a six-hole span to move to 9-under before struggling on the final two holes.
Park drove into a hazard on the par-5 18th for a one-shot penalty before saving par with a 15-foot putt.
In between them sits perennial U.S. Open threat Amy Yang at 6 under, along with Miram Lee, who followed the smashing start with an afternoon 74.
Lydia Ko bounced back from an opening round 73 to match Park for the low round of the morning, carding a six-under par, 66 to move into a share of fourth with Haru Nomura at five-under par.
Her 2-under round on Thursday was only her second career round under par at the U.S. Open, where her highest finish is a tie for eighth in 2010.
But things then quickly fell apart.
Yang shot a 71 and finished the second round two shots back. She finished with three pars and had to wait for five groups to finish before learning her fate.
“I just kind of worked on my swing, and you’re messing around and all of a sudden I got a little bit better strike, ” said Noren, who has already qualified for the British Open at Royal Troon next week in Western Scotland.
But the lead didn’t last long as she 3-putted the 17th green for bogey to fall back into a tie, and she made par at the 18th, missing a 20-footer for what would have been the win.
Yes, Ko’s still so young, playing the U.S. Women’s Open for just the fifth time, but she concedes there has been some frustration trying to claim this prize.
The 19-year-old New Zealander rolled in a putt to birdie the 18th hole, which leaves her with a one shot lead on seven-under-par. Last year she became the youngest woman to win a major with her triumph at the Evian Championship, and she added her second at the ANA Inspiration this year.
“Experience is huge”, said Ko, who was beaten by Canadian Brooke Henderson on the first extra hole of last month’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship outside Seattle. “I definitely do get nervous, but I think that’s part of it”, Ko said. “You need to stay patient”. I don’t know what they’re going to do, but I have to be prepared for anything.
No 4-ranked Lexi Thompson, who also played with Ko and Henderson, as also at 3-over.
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Ko has a one-shot lead over 2009 victor Eun Hee Ji and Sung Hyun Park.
