Korean Park moves two ahead at U.S. Women's Open

Korean Park moves two ahead at U.S. Women's Open










June 28, 2013 7:43 PM

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(Reuters) - South Korea's Park Inbee moved a step closer to her third major victory this year when she seized a two-shot lead in the weather-interrupted second round of the U.S. Women's Open in Southampton, New York on Friday.

Shortly before play was suspended for the day as fog enveloped the challenging Sebonack Country Club layout, the in-form Park rolled in a birdie putt on the 18th green to complete a four-under-par 68.

That left the Korean world number one at nine-under 135, two ahead of compatriot Kim In-kyung, who had played well for a 69 earlier in the day despite gusting winds and several tough pin positions.

American Lizette Salas was at four under after shooting an even 72, level with England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff, who was two under for the round with three holes to complete when the siren sounded to halt the action.

The cut was projected to fall at five-over 149 with Taiwan's former world number one Yani Tseng, third-ranked Norwegian Suzann Pettersen and reigning Women's British Open champion Shin Ji-yai of South Korea among those destined to miss out.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Frank Pingue)

Kim leads fog-suspended U.S. Women's Open

Kim leads fog-suspended U.S. Women's Open









Joe Pantorno, The Sports Xchange June 28, 2013 8:11 PMThe SportsXchange



Lest we forget after one round that Inbee Park was still here to compete for the U.S. Women's Open, she made it quite clear in the second-round fog at Sebonack.

While I.K. Kim took an early round lead at 7 under par, Park, with one of the last rounds of the day, overcame her first two bogeys of the tournament to shoot 4-under 68 on Friday for a two-day total of 9 under.

The world's No. 1-ranked player was able to get under par for the round with a birdie on No. 8. She then sank a 35-foot putt for another birdie on 13 to tie Kim. Two holes later, at the par-5 15th, Park took the lead and added some insurance with a 10-foot birdie putt to give her a two-stroke lead by day's end.

Her putt was the last of the day as fog suspended play for a few late groupings.

Kim was very much in the thick of things in Thursday's first round. Sharing the lead with Park before Ha-Neul Kim took over, I.K. Kim went on to bogey the 18th hole and drop to third place at 4 under.

In the second round, Kim made sure she finished strong, ending on the front nine with two birdies to shoot a 3-under 69.

Ha-Neul Kim, the first-round leader, did not have the same good fortune at Sebonack that she had Thursday. With three bogeys and a double bogey, Ha-Neul shot 5 over for the round and dropped to 1 under overall.

Englishwoman Jodi Ewart Shadoff used a bogey-less 13-hole run to go 3 under on the day and 5 under for the tournament. Two birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 sparked her jump to third place before she bogeyed 14 to finish at 4 under. She has three holes remaining in the second round.

Lizette Salas shot par on day two, staying at 4 under and tied for third. She was momentarily tied with Park at 5 under at the start of the round, but she bogeyed 14 after two straight birdies on Nos. 7 and 8.

Angela Stanford shot a 4 under 68 to jump to fifth place in the second round. She birdied four of the first seven holes on the back nine.

Park cuts through fog to lead

Park cuts through fog to lead









The Sports Xchange June 28, 2013 8:20 PMThe SportsXchange


SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. -- Lest we forget after one round thatInbee Park was still here to compete for the U.S. Women's Open, she made it quite clear in the second-round fog at Sebonack Golf Club.



"We got very lucky to finish today," Park said. "It was tough to play in the fog."



Her putt was the last shot of the day as fog suspended play for a few late starters.



Kim was very much in the thick of things in Thursday's first round. Sharing the lead with Park before Ha-Neul Kim took over, I.K. Kim went on to bogey the 18th hole and drop to third at 4 under.



"Yesterday wasn't the nicest way to finish," Kim said. "Today, I didn't think about how many holes I needed to play. Out here you have to play with everything you have and that's all you can do."




"Typically, I like afternoon (tee) times," Kim said. "It didn't really look very nice this morning, but it turned out to be a much better day."



"My irons were not good and my greens in regulation were bad," Kim said. "I'm not upset. I'm entered. Yeah, (I'm still having fun)."



"She's handled herself very good," Park said. "She's a very consistent player. I watched her playing yesterday and she looked very solid and I look forward to playing with her."



Salas shot par on day two, staying at 4 under and tied for third. She was momentarily was tied with Park at 5 under at the start of the round but bogeyed 14 after two straight birdies on Nos. 7 and 8.



"I learned a very quick lesson from yesterday," Stanford said. "I kind of told myself to knock it off and don't make the same mistakes."