Mao Saigo already received her first main title this 12 months. She’s placing herself in place for one more at US Girls’s Open.
Saigo shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take second-round lead at Erin Hills. At 8-under 136, the 23-year-old Japanese participant had a three-stroke benefit over a gaggle of six led by top-ranked Nelly Korda.
If Saigo maintains this tempo, she would end at 16 beneath to match the rating Brooks Koepka had in profitable the US Open at Erin Hills in 2017. Koepka matched a US Open document.
Saigo was requested whether or not 16 beneath is likely to be inside attain.
“It is extremely tough to match,” she stated via an intepretor. “All I can say is that I’ll do my greatest, and consequently, I want to make an excellent consequence.”
Saigo received Chevron Championship in a playoff exterior Houston simply over a month in the past for her first LPGA Tour title.
Korda, who has by no means completed increased than a tie for eighth within the US Girls’s Open, had a 67. That’s the perfect spherical she’s had within the occasion.
“I really feel like I’ve had a really difficult relationship with US Opens,” Korda stated, “however I’m glad to be within the place I’m heading into the weekend.”
She was 5 beneath with Hinako Shibuno (69), Sarah Schmelzel (68), Maja Stark (69), Yealimi Noh (71) and 2020 U.S. Girls’s Open champion A Lim Kim (71). Jing Yan (69), Lin Grant (69), Chiara Tamburlini (71) and Jinhee Im (72) had been 4 beneath.
After not making a birdie till her 18th gap Thursday, Korda had seven of them Friday due to her improved placing.
“Actually, I used to be hitting actually good putts yesterday,” Korda stated. “I used to be hitting it precisely the place I needed to and so they simply weren’t falling. It was a type of days. In the present day I did the identical factor.”
Kim was considered one of 18 rivals nonetheless on the course ending their rounds when climate issues halted play for about 54 minutes. Kim was alone in second place at 6 beneath and enjoying No 17 when the delay occurred.
The 29-year-old from South Korea stated she waited out the delay in a automobile. Kim then returned to make par on No 17 earlier than bogeying the par-5 18th to fall again right into a tie for second.
Kim stated she nonetheless likes the place she stands halfway via the event.
“Actually good place,” Kim stated. “I like to chase the chief, so let me see.”
Saigo made positive everybody can be chasing her this weekend as she bounced again from some early misfortune.
After beginning out at No 10 and getting birdies on No 11 and No 12, Saigo bogeyed the par-5 No 14 when she acquired a nasty break. Her third shot hit the flagstick, bounced backward and rolled all the best way to a bunker.
However she recovered by getting 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch from Nos 16-2.
“I assumed that was not my mistake,” Saigo stated. “I simply thought to myself that it was simply unfortunate, after which I simply modified my thoughts.”
Play was suspended resulting from darkness Friday evening with 12 gamers unable to complete.
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