In 2019 at England’s Woburn Golf Club, Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, nicknamed Smiling Cinderella for her ever-present grin, found her glass slipper by capturing the AIG Women’s Open title. Little more than a year later, Shibuno is inching ever closer to a second fairy-tale moment. On Friday, the 22-year-old shot a 4-under 67 on Champions Golf Club’s Jackrabbit Course and pulled three strokes clear of the field at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open at -7 overall.

“Today my tee shots found the rough more often. However, my second shots were pretty stable and able to par on to the greens,” said Shibuno, who had six birdies and two bogeys on Friday. “So my golf today was pretty safe, stable condition. At the same time, when it comes to the chance for a birdie, my putting was pretty good.

If Shibuno can emerge victorious on Sunday, she would join Se Ri Pak and In Gee Chun as the only players in history to win majors as their first two LPGA Tour titles. Pak won her titles at the 1998 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open, while Chun won the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open and the 2016 Evian Championship.

Swedish amateur Linn Grant, a sophomore at Arizona State University, opened with back-to-back 69s to secure solo second. Another amateur follows her on the leaderboard, as University of Texas senior Kaitlyn Papp is tied for third at -3. She is joined by two LPGA Tour players looking for their first victories in Megan Khang and first-round leader Amy Olson. Olson followed her first-round 67 with a 1-over 72 on the Jackrabbit Course on Friday, while Khang shot a bogey-free 2-under 69 on the Cypress Creek Course.

2007 U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr, who was involved in a golf-cart accident last week that left her playing chances in doubt, battled through the pain to finish at -2. She is one of eight players tied for sixth, a group that includes sisters Ariya Jutanugarn and Moriya Jutanugarn, as well as Houston native Stacy Lewis.

“I've definitely missed shots I would normally not miss because I'm in pain, but it's kind of a nice mental place to be,” said Kerr. “I'm not happy how I got here, but maybe it's meant to teach me a lesson, I don't know. God moves in mysterious ways.”

The defending U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6 shot a second-round 2-under 69 on the Jackrabbit Course and heads into the weekend tied for 20th at Even. While daunting, her seven-stroke deficit is not insurmountable. Two of the last five U.S. Women’s Open champions trailed by seven strokes after 36 holes – Sung Hyun Park (2017) and Brittany Lang (2016).

The cut came at +3, with 66 players reaching the weekend. Notable players to miss the cut include U.S. Women’s Open champions Brittany Lang (+4), Eun Hee Ji (+4), In Gee Chun (+4) and Sung Hyun Park (+7), as well as Rolex Rankings No. 3 Nelly Korda (+4) and 2020 ANA Inspiration champion Mirim Lee (+6).

Hinako Shibuno Halfway to Another Major Title

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