Feng stays patient, continues to lead U.S. Women's Open

BEDMINSTER, N.J. – The rain that fell for much of the day Friday at Trump National Golf Club could have frustrated even the most patient of players, but Shanshan Feng didn't let it bother her during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open.

Feng, the first-round leader, coped with the longer, wetter course and came through with a 2-under-par 70 to grab a 2-stroke lead at the halfway point of a tournament that felt a palpable buzz after President Trump arrived on the grounds just after 3:30 p.m.

The weather wreaked havoc with the players starting with a rain delay of more than two hours Thursday afternoon that required 39 players to come back early Friday to finish their opening rounds. Play went on Friday without a stoppage but the rain fell heavily at times before stopping around 4 p.m.

Feng, though, was ready. She said she played her first nine holes in the rain and even though she had to hit longer clubs for her approach shots to the greens, she had no trouble adapting.

"I didn't really pay attention to the weather," she said. "I knew it was going to rain and I was prepared. I had my rain suit and rain glove and umbrella, everything there. So I tried not to think about the weather, just focus on every shot. That's what I did and I did well.

"It rained really heavy on my front nine so I had to almost add 10 yards on my second shots. That's why like (Thursday) I was hitting 7-irons, 9-irons, but today I was hitting 5-irons, 4-hybrids, 3-hybrids, and a 3-wood on the 18^th hole. It did really play differently."

Feng, 27, who is seeking her eighth LPGA Tour win and second major title, made her first and only bogey of the tournament thus far at the par-4 10^th hole but came back with back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 and parred out to complete 36 holes at 8-under 136.

"I just did really well for the first two rounds and I think I should just keep doing the same thing for the weekend," the citizen of China said. "So I'm not going to make any changes and, yeah, just be myself."

Three players were tied for second, the most compelling of whom was 17-year-old amateur Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea, the low amateur in last year's Women's Open. Choi ran off four straight birdies to move into a tie for the lead with Feng at 8-under, but poor chipping led to bogeys on her 16^th and 17^th holes, and a 69 left her at 138.

"Last year's experience gave me a lot more confidence and the results were pretty good, so I feel a lot better this year," Choi said.

Another young South Korean, 21-year-old Jeongeun6 Lee – so named because of the abundance of women named Jeongeun Lee on the KLPGA Tour – also fired a second straight 69, and Amy Yang followed up her opening 67 with a 71.

Seon Woo Bae, also of South Korea, was in fifth place alone at 139 after a 69.

Janet Alex, the hometown favorite from Wayne, N.J., fired a 70 and was the low American at 141.

"Obviously it's incredible because it's here in New Jersey but to contend in a U.S. Open, regardless of where the location is, is unbelievable," Alex said. "I'm really with where I put myself the last two days."

The 36-hole cut was set at 2-over 146, with 62 players advancing to the final two rounds. Among those eliminated were KPMG Women's PGA champion Danielle Kang (147), former Women's Open champion Paula Creamer (150), two-time Open winner Inbee Park (151), and Ariya Jutanugarn (151), the world's No. 2-ranked player.