War of attrition faces US Women's Open field
IN: News | LPGA | US Women's Open (2006) | Round Two | by Bruce Young | 02 Jul 2006
The final thirty six holes of the 2006 US Women's Open promises to be a fight to the death and, as was the case with the men's equivalent two weeks ago, the eventual winner is likely to be a case of 'the last woman standing'.
This will be further accentuated by the fact that 36 holes will be played on Sunday to accommodate the delays caused by the fogout on the opening day on Thursday and so by the end of the tomorrow's play all those who have made the cut are likely to be both physically and mentally exhausted. Already the event appears to be headed for an even par or perhaps a considerably higher winning total.
At two under, Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst lead the way and although throughout the day they had as many as ten fellow competitors joining them in red figures, when the dust (figuratively speaking) settled, they would be the only two under par.
Sorenstam played beautifully throughout and actually stood at three under before two late bogeys saw her eventually finish at two under. The Swede had played early on day two but she would be joined in the lead late in the day and actually headed at one stage by Hurst who moved to three under through eight holes and remained that way until a bogey at the 12th and another at the 13th saw her slip one behind Sorenstam. Hurst birdied the 16th to once again share the lead and then parred in to be assured of a final day showdown with the two time US Open winner.
Hurst has a major to her name when wining the Kraft Nabisco in 1998 but her record at the US Women's Open is not so impressive. Just two top tens in thirteen career starts indicates she will find it a tough task to hold off not only Sorenstam but many other leading players who are all breathing down their necks. There may only be one day of play left, but the tournament is effectively only half completed, perhaps even less given the demands that will apply form this point on, and there are therefore many players still in the mix.
The amateur Jane Park is at even par and perhaps threatening to do what the likes of Brittany Lang and Morgan Pressel did last year when they shared second place in this event. If she did it would be quite a surprise but she will have the spotlight on her throughout tomorrow irrespective of how she plays in the morning round. There will be no re-pairing and so she will be faced with the prospect of playing her third and fourth rounds with Michelle Wie and Jeong Jang, both of whom have realistic chances of victory. It could well be a long day for her if she makes a shaky start but the 2004 US Women's Amateur Champion, Curtis Cup player and UCLA Freshman certainly has game.
Wie was moving along nicely until a double bogey at the par three 17th, which was her 8th hole today, saw her slip from a share of the lead. She finished at even par and her length and youth will be of tremendous assistance in the long battle ahead.
Also at even par and very much is the mix is Shi Hyun Ahn who has been rock solid in her opening rounds of 71. She has certainly played the front nine much better than the back nine at the Newport Country Club but as a genuine and regular contender in events on the LPGA Tour and as a runner up already in a major she has the credentials to go on with it.
Jeong Jang is at the top of her game right now and with a major already to her name (2005 Weetabix British Open) she knows she is capable of winning against the best in the toughest of conditions. She will get both tomorrow but has a win last week as yet another confidence boost to help her on day four.
The group just a little further off the pace may yet have a significant say in the final outcome late tomorrow. Lorena Ochoa played early on day two and appeared to have cost herself a winning chance when she drifted to four over with two holes to go. Birdies at her final two holes today however reminded both herself and everyone else that she was still very much in this event. Two rounds of even par might be all the Mexican needs to make amends for her horror finish to last year's event when a quadruple bogey at the 72nd hole, when leading, saw a great opportunity missed. Ochoa will play in the fourth to last group tomorrow with Stacy Prammansudh and Candie Kung.
Playing in the third to last group and a player who could yet win her third US Open and her eighth major is the 46 year old Juli Inkster. Inkster will play with Se Ri Pak and Paul Creamer with Creamer some 27 years the junior of Inkster. Not for one moment would Creamer think she has an advantage over Inkster because of her age however as the veteran has proven already in 2006 that age is no barrier to her beating the whippersnappers. Inkster's guts and determination to succeed may yet be a factor in the outcome of this event. She is just three off the lead.
Se Ri Pak continues to impress despite her second round of 74. It might be a bit much to expect her to win her second US Open to follow her first in her rookie season in 1998 but she has found a greater belief and enjoyment in recent months that suggest she is not the least of chances.
Paula Creamer has not exactly been on top of her game in recent months but she has shown again over the first two days of this event why she is considered one of the great hopes of American golf. Given her lack of recent form it is hard to imagine her challenging for the title especially given the demands that will be placed on her all round game tomorrow. What she does have on her side however is youth, but it might be that she will need much more than that in what could well be one of the most demanding days of her young career tomorrow.
The Australasian challenge was to have been headed by Karrie Webb - and it might yet be - but she has made a start that all but sees her out of winning contention. The swing that looked so good in recent weeks has not been with her over the first two rounds. Webb is at seven over par and while perhaps not yet completely out of it, she will need something extraordinary to get back into contention for the final round.
The Australasians are therefore headed at this stage by Rachel Hetherington who at four under is in 20th place and Lindsey Wright who is at five under and in 27th place.
Hetherington actually birdied her first two holes today and was at even par for the championship before a double bogey at the third had her heading in the wrong direction. For Wright, who played early today, she did her best work while either having lunch or practising today. When she finished her round she was 46th but the toll the course was taking saw her improve 19 places without hitting a shot.
Shani Waugh has done well to maker the cut on limited preparation and New Zealander Lynette Brooky has made the cut once again in a US Open. Brooky again struggled with the back nine of the Newport Country Club but has done well to again be around for what will be a demanding final thirty six holes.
Nadina Light and Sarah Jane Kenyon both missed the cut but will live to fight another day.
