Park leads delayed US Women's Open
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2008 US Womens Open | Round Two | 28 Jun 2008
Angela Park leads after the second round of the US Women’s Open, her brilliant Friday round of 67 early on day two creating a one shot lead but she was forced to wait almost eight hours to discover if she would have the 36 hole lead.
Late in the day, after inclement weather had delayed play for almost three hours, Swede Helen Alfredsson appeared as if she may threaten Park’s lead.
She had actually joined Park in the lead before the rain delay came at 4:20pm when she birdied the 10th hole but then came the disruption.
On her return, Alfredsson remained at that score until a bogey at the 16th and, unable to birdie the par five last, she joined Finnish golfer, Minea Blomqvist, and In-Bee Park in a share of second place at 5 under.
Although 42 players will be forced to complete their rounds tomorrow, they will not impact Park’s position at the top of the leaderboard nor, therefore, will they affect the ten shot rule which allows all those at four over or better to play the weekend. As a result, many players who would not otherwise have made the cut are still alive in the tournament.
19-year-old Park, of Korean heritage but born in Brazil, only became a US citizen this year although she spent much of her formative years in the US. In her first season on the LPGA in 2007, she finished runner up in this event behind Cristie Kerr.
Amongst the more favoured players prior to the tournament, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Jeong Jang are within two of the lead at 4 under, Annika Sorenstam improved with a round of 70 to be at 1 under, Yani Tseng produced a strong finish to her round to be at 1 under, Lorena Ochoa was at 1 over and Suzann Pettersen was at 2 over.
The best of the Australians was Katherine Hull, who is in 16th place at 2 under. Rachel Hetherington double bogeyed immediately after the rain delay and was at even par when playing her final hole as play was called and will need to return at 7.00am tomorrow.
Karrie Webb birdied the last to just make the cut at 4 over, Lindsey Wright recovered from her horror start to the event with a round of 72 to make the cut but Wendy Doolan and Rachel Bailey will miss the weekend.
