WEATHER CONTINUES TO BOMBARD U.S. WOMEN’S OPEN
While Thursday’s first round at the U.S. Women’s Open went off without a hitch, things were not so smooth on Friday. Mother Nature again reared her head at Shoal Creek, with pop-up thunderstorms peppering the greater Birmingham area and causing play to be suspended at 2:27 p.m. CDT.
When play resumed at 6:16 p.m., there was a group on either side yet to tee off. Weather again suspended play at 7:20 p.m., and the second round will resume Saturday at 6:45 a.m. with the full afternoon wave of 78 players yet to finish.
UL INTERNATIONAL CROWN COUNTDOWN
It’s down to the wire for countries to qualify for the UL International Crown, to be held Oct. 4-7 at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, Republic of Korea. The eight qualifying countries will be determined when the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are released on June 4, while players will be determined following the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship on July 2.
Australia is a lock to make a third run at the Crown, but the four players who will rep the Aussie flag are anything but locked down.
At No. 8 in the Rolex Rankings, Minjee Lee is set for her third UL International Crown appearance and at No. 56, Katherine Kirk is expected to return to the team after playing in the inaugural event in 2014. With those two spots seemingly taken, the next two spots on Team Australia will be a battle down to the July 2nd cutoff. Only 10 spots separate the next three Australians in the Rolex Rankings: 2018 LPGA rookie Hannah Green at No. 87, No. 91 Su Oh and Sarah Jane Smith at No. 97.
This week’s U.S. Women’s Open could be a turning point for the Team Australia race, with Smith as the leader at -10 and Oh fighting to hold her spot as she heads into the weekend just four shots back from her countrywoman. Green did not qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open.
As of the May 28 rankings, the top eight countries are: Republic of Korea (18), United States of America (43), Japan (172), England (185), Australia (242), Thailand (255), Sweden (285), Chinese Taipei (317).
NOTABLE QUOTES
Sarah Jane Smith, Australia (134), on holding the lead at a major for the first time:
“I haven’t been in the position before, I but I hope to show up like it’s another day. I’m happy with the way I’m playing. I feel comfortable on the greens which has been something that has been a little bit off laterally. So it’s nice to be able to feel like I’m seeing the greens really well and seeing some putts go in. Hopefully that keeps going.”
Su Oh, Australia (138), on Sarah Jane Smith’s success:
“We were looking at the leaderboard saying Sarah is very greedy, just taking all the birdies.”
QUICK HITS
Sarah Jane Smith is playing in her seventh U.S. Women’s Open; her best finish is T46, the only year she made the cut
Smith is playing in her 223rd LPGA event and is looking for her first career victory
Smith’s 36-hole score of 134 is two off the U.S. Women’s Open 36-hole record of 132, set by Helen Alfredsson in 1994
This is the second time Smith has made the cut in her seven U.S. Women’s Open starts; she started 71-76 in 2013 and finished T46
Until Thursday’s first round, Smith had never had a U.S. Women’s Open round in the 60s and had only one round under par (71, first round, 2013)
Su Oh is playing in her fourth U.S. Women’s Open; her best finish is T56 in 2017, the only year she made the cut
Oh’s second-round 68 is her first U.S. Women’s Open round in the 60s
Smith and Oh both hail from Australia; two Australians are U.S. Women’s Open champions – Jan Stephenson (1983) and Karrie Webb(2000, 2001)
With a win, either Smith or Oh would join Pernilla Lindberg (2018 ANA Inspiration) as the second consecutive player to earn become a Rolex First-Time Winner at a major championship
Three of the last five major winners have been Rolex First-Time Winners – Pernilla Lindberg (2018 ANA Inspiration), Danielle Kang(2017 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship) and Sung Hyun Park (2017 U.S. Women’s Open)
With a win, either Smith or Oh would become the fifth consecutive first-time major winner at the U.S. Women’s Open, joining Sung Hyun Park (2017), Brittany Lang (2016), In Gee Chun (2015) and Michelle Wie (2014)
Ariya Jutanugarn is playing in her sixth U.S. Women’s Open; her best finish is T17 in 2016, the only year she made the cut
Catriona Matthew had a hole-in-one with an 8-iron on the par-3 fifth hole, which was playing to 154 yards on Friday; it was the 26th ace in U.S. Women’s Open history and marks the fifth consecutive year the championship has had a hole-in-one
Defending champion Sung Hyun Park shot a 76-77–153 and will miss the cut; she becomes the first U.S. Women’s Open champion to miss the cut in her title defense since Birdie Kim (won in 2005, missed the cut in 2006)
Play was suspended at 2:27 p.m. CDT due to dangerous conditions and resumed at 6:16 p.m. CDT; it was again suspended at 7:20 p.m. CDT, with second-round play to resume Friday at 6:45 a.m. CDT
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