LANCASTER, Pa. — Amy Yang has experienced success at the U.S. Women’s Open. Now, she wants the ultimate prize.
LANCASTER, Pa. — Amy Yang has experienced success at the U.S. Women’s Open. Now, she wants the ultimate prize.
The 25-year-old South Korean went on a four-birdie run Friday, charging to a three-stroke lead after two rounds at Lancaster Country Club and putting her in position — again — to make a run at her first major championship.
The day started early for 55 players, who resumed their opening round after play was suspended late Thursday due to a powerful storm. The second round ended with the bulk of the field still trying to solve the speedy and sloping greens of the hilly William Flynn layout in the heart of Amish country.
Ultimately, the day belonged to Yang.
She took control on her inward nine with birdies on the 11th, 12th, 13th. She hit her approach to within a foot on No. 14 and punctuated the 4-under-par run. She was at 7-under 133.
“I just enjoy it out here,” Yang said. “And I know the golf courses are very tough; I just enjoy the tough condition of the golf courses.”
Stacy Lewis, last year’s runner-up, and Japan’s Shiho Oyama were tied for second at 4-under 136.
Yang has had her share of success on the LPGA Tour, earning two victories since turning pro in 2006. But some of her finest golf has been played in the U.S. Open, where she has finished in the top 10 four times in the last five years.
She tied for fifth in 2010, shared 10th place the following year and placed second in 2012. Last year at Pinehurst No. 2, she was third after 36 holes and first after 54 before closing with a 74 and finishing fourth.
She was paired with eventual winner Michelle Wie in the final round at Pinehurst and believes that experience can only help over the final two rounds.
“It’s better to have that experience than never experience that before,” Yang said. “It’s different out there and I know what kind of pressure that is like. It will be tough, but I will be patient and work on it.”
Wie rebounded from an opening 72 with a 2-under 68 and was seven shots off the lead.
PGA TOUR
SILVIS, Ill. — Justin Thomas shot a 4-under 67 on Friday to take a 1-shot lead through two rounds at the John Deere Classic.
Thomas, a 22-year-old seeking his first career win, is at 12-under 130 total. Johnson Wagner and Tom Gillis are a shot back.
Jordan Spieth shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to go from at risk of missing the cut to moving within five shots of the lead.
Spieth, who will try for his third straight major title next week at the British Open, opened the tournament Thursday with an even-par 71. But he rallied with four birdies in six holes and an eagle Friday.
SCOTTISH OPEN
GULLANE, Scotland — Justin Rose was shaken by striking an elderly spectator on the head with an errant drive on the way to a 4-under 66 at the Scottish Open, leaving him tied for the lead midway through the second round.
The defending champion sent his tee shot left on the par-5 16th and when he approached his ball, there was a man sitting the ground with blood coming from a cut on his head. Rose said a young spectator fainted at the sight of the blood, but soon “came around.”
Rose said “it’s an elderly gentleman so it’s not nice, but he took it like a trooper. … He was talking to me and that’s reassuring.”
After a second straight 66, Rose was tied at 8 under with Sweden’s Johan Carlsson (67) and Ireland’s Shane Lowry (66).
CHAMPIONS TOUR
GLENVIEW, Ill. — Lee Janzen, Fred Funk, David Frost and Brad Bryant share the lead after shooting a 7-under 65 in the first round of the Encompass Championship at North Shore Country Club.
Janzen, who won the 1993 and 1998 U.S. Opens, chipped in for a birdie on the 17th hole during a run of three straight birdies while playing in the morning.