Oh, Hurst lead at US Women's Open
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 US Womens Open | Round One | 27 Jun 2008
Two players with contrasting levels of experience lead after the opening round of the US Women’s Open Championship in Edina, Minnesota. The relative newcomer, Ji-Young Oh, and LPGA veteran, Pat Hurst, recorded rounds of six under 67, leaving them one ahead of yet another Korean, Song-Hee Kim.
In front of huge opening day crowds and in warm, calm conditions at the Interlachen Country Club just outside of Minneapolis, 32 players would break par, which in itself is an unusual occurrence on courses set up for US Open golf.
19-year-old Korean, Oh, is in her second season on the LPGA Tour having finished 72nd in her rookie year in 2007. She has built on that in 2008, missing only one cut in 15 starts and is already well past her first season earnings. She is clearly another young Korean golfer heading places. This is just Oh’s second US Women’s Open, having missed the cut last year at Southern Pines.
39-year-old Hurst on the other hand is playing in her 17th US Women’s Open, her best finish coming in 2006 when she lost an 18 hole playoff to Annika Sorenstam. Hurst already has a major to her name however and is the winner of five LPGA Tour events.
Oh played early while Hurst played late although conditions remained perfect throughout the day.
Amongst the pre-tournament favourites, Paula Creamer recorded a three under round of 70, McDonald’s LPGA Champion Yani Tseng 71, defending champion Cristie Kerr 72, Lorena Ochoa an even par 73, Annika Sorenstam 75 as did Karrie Webb and Suzann Pettersen a 77.
Of the Australians, Rachel Hetherington started well with an opening 71, Katherine Hull 72, Karrie Webb 75, Lindsey Wright 78 after six dropped shots in her first five holes including a quadruple bogey nine at her third hole, Wendy Doolan a 79 and Rachel Bailey, out in the last group of the day in her first US Women’s Open, finished the day with an 80.
The early cut prediction suggests a score of 3 over will be required to play the weekend.
