First time lucky: South Korea's Park Sung-hyun sets pace at US Women's Open
Playing in her first US Open, she fired seven birdies in a six-under-par 66 to grab a two-stroke lead over compatriots Amy Yang and Lee Mi-rim
Free-swinging Park Sung-hyun fired seven birdies in a six-under-par 66 on on Friday to grab a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the US Women’s Open at CordeValle in San Martin, California.
Park, playing in her first US Open, took advantage of benign morning conditions and vaulted to the top of the leaderboard on eight-under, two strokes in front of compatriots Amy Yang and Lee Mi-rim with world number one Lydia Ko lurking just a further stroke back.
“I didn’t even think about winning because this is the first time for me,” said the 22-year-old Park, a five-time winner on the Korean LPGA Tour who has played three LPGA Tour events this year.
“I would like more experience with the USGA, LPGA. But I’m trying to enjoy this tournament. That’s why I am just more comfortable, don’t even think about the winning, I just enjoy the play. That’s why it happened today.”
Seven birdies helped Sung Hyun Park post a 6-under 66 in Round 2 to take the #USWomensOpen lead at 8-under 136.https://t.co/MbxjbZHB6k— USGA (@USGA) July 9, 2016
Park’s seven birdies included four in six holes on the back nine. Her lone bogey came at the 17th, where she was unable to get up and down from a greenside bunker.