Second round leader Amy Yang, tees off the sixth hole during the second round of the US Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club on Friday, July 10, 2015. (Photo/Suzette Wenger)

Friday wrapup: Amy Yang surges to three-shot lead

Posted: July 10, 2015 2:48 pm

Amy Yang rolled in four consecutive birdies in a round of 4-under 66 for a three-stroke lead after two rounds if the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club. (Full scoreboard)

Second round leader Amy Yang and her caddie, read her par putt on the sixth green during the second round of the US Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club on Friday, July 10, 2015. (Photo/Suzette Wenger)

Second round leader Amy Yang and her caddie, read her par putt on the sixth green during the second round of the US Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club on Friday, July 10, 2015. (Photo/Suzette Wenger)

While the bulk of the field tried to solve the sloping greens at Lancaster Country Club, Yang charged into the lead on her inward nine with birdies on Nos. 11-13. The 25-year-old South Korean was at 7-under 133.

Stacy Lewis, last year’s runner-up, and Japan’s Shiho Oyama were tied for second at 4-under 136.

Marina Alex, part of a three-way tie for the lead after one round, carded a 1-over 71 and was next at 3-under 137.

Karrie Webb, also first round co-leader, had a 2-over 72 and was in a large group at 2-under 138. That group includes top-ranked and two-time champion Inbee Park (70), first-round co-leader Jane Park (72) and Michelle Pressel (70).

Defending champion Michelle Wie rebounded from an opening 72 with a 2-under 68 and was seven shots off the lead.

Earlier

At 3 p.m., with half of the field in the midst of the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club, Amy Yang was on the course and in the lead with a 4-under

Three golfers were one stroke behind: First-round co-leaders Marina Alex and Karrie Webb and Morgan Pressel.

The projected cut is 5-over, and defending champion Michelle Wie was at 3-over.

Earlier

First-round co-leader Jane Park stumbled with a 2-over 72 and fell out of a three-way tie for the top spot midway through the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open.

Park clawed into a tie for first with Karrie Webb and Marina Alex earlier Friday with a birdie and four pars. She and 54 others had to complete their opening rounds one day after play was stopped when storms pounded Lancaster Country Club. She finished at 2 under, along with top-ranked Inbee Park.

Amy Yang was at 3 under and joined two-time U.S. Open champ Webb and Alex as an afternoon starter.

Sei Young Kim made the biggest move of the morning wave. The South Korean shot a 67 after an opening 73 and was at even par along with Taiwan’s Min Lee (68).

Kim’s caddie was removed from the championship this week by the U.S. Golf Association for taking photos of internal notes on the course setup.

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Earlier today

Jane Park made a birdie and four pars Friday morning, moving into a tie for the lead after the first round of the rain-delayed U.S. Women’s Open.

 

Park is tied with Karrie Webb and Marina Alex at 4-under 66. Na Yeon Choi, the 2012 U.S. Open winner, and Amy Yang are a stroke back. Meanwhile, Min Lee shot one of the better rounds on a difficult day for scoring and is at 1-under entering the weekend.

Top-ranked Inbee Park returned to complete her round and pulled within a shot of the leaders before a bogey at No. 17 left her two shots behind and in a pack of eight players at 68.

Fifty-five golfers were forced to complete their first rounds starting 6:45 a.m. Friday, hours after play was suspended Thursday evening because of a strong storm that pounded Lancaster Country Club with high winds and heavy rain.

Jane Park shrugged off the delay and early start, pleased with her 1-under run through the last five holes.

“It’s a good way to start the day,” the 2004 U.S. Amateur champ said.

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She was at 3 under through 13 holes when play was halted. The 28-year-old American got off to a quick start when play resumed, making a 15-foot downhill putt for birdie at the par-4, 14th to tie for the lead.

She saved par at the 17th by hitting to within two feet from a bunker. But she nearly gave a stroke back at the 437-yard, par-4 uphill 18th.

She hit driver, 3-wood and still couldn’t get her ball close to the hole. She chipped close with her third shot and drained a testy 2-footer for par.

“At 18, I haven’t been able to reach the hole all week,” she said after her approach hit a few paces on the green, only to roll back off the front.

She recovered by hitting her chip close and closing out the par. Then, she shifted her focus quickly to the second round, which she started an hour after finishing the first.

“It’s the luck of the draw,” she said, “People have to deal with it. And whoever can deal with it best should come out pretty well.”

First round co-leaders Webb and Alex weren’t due to tee off in the second round until later Friday.

Webb, a seven-time major champion who won consecutive U.S. Opens in 2000-2001, has struggled this season, posting three top-10 finishes in 14 starts. Her play improved Thursday when she hit 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens.

“It’s been a test of my patience. I feel like I’ve had some good golf in me,” Webb said.

Alex was an unlikely leader. The second-year LPGA player is competing in her second U.S. Open and first since 2009. She has been working on swing changes and it all seemed to come together Thursday as she birdied three of her last five holes to get to 4 under.

Among the players Joining Inbee Park at 2 under were Morgan Pressel, who reached 4 under before making bogey on two of her last three holes, and China’s Muni He, a 16-year-old amateur playing in her first U.S. Open.

More coverage

Where, when to watch the U.S. Women’s Open on TV

Friday’s Round 2 tee times (updated)

Parking now also available at Conestoga Valley High School

Friday recap: Webb, Alex lead Round 1 of U.S. Women’s Open as thunderstorms mar day

Historic Thursday at Lancaster Country Club had a little bit of everything

Lexi Thompson putts on 9 Friday morning to finish her first round of the 2015 U.S. Women's Open. Thompson was forced to finish her first round Friday moring after severe weather suspended play Thursday afternoon. (Photo/Blaine Shahan)

Lexi Thompson putts on 9 Friday morning to finish her first round of the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open. Thompson was forced to finish her first round Friday moring after severe weather suspended play Thursday afternoon. (Photo/Blaine Shahan)