WATERLOO, Ontario (AP) — South Korea’s Inbee Park birdied her final two holes for a 7-under 64 and a one-stroke lead Friday in the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic. WATERLOO, Ontario (AP) — South Korea’s Inbee Park birdied her final
WATERLOO, Ontario (AP) — South Korea’s Inbee Park birdied her final two holes for a 7-under 64 and a one-stroke lead Friday in the inaugural Manulife Financial LPGA Classic.
The 2008 U.S. Women’s Open champion had a 9-under 133 total at Grey Silo. She holed a 50-foot putt on the ninth hole for the last of her eight birdies, had one bogey and only 22 putts.
“I played great today,” Park said. “I hit the ball very well and especially hit my short irons really good, so I gave myself a lot of opportunities and obviously putted very good today.”
Seven players were unable to complete play Friday because of darkness. Rain Thursday forced the suspension of first-round play until Friday morning, delaying the start of the second round.
China’s Shanshan Feng, coming off a major victory two weeks ago in the LPGA Championship, was a stroke back along with Brittany Lang and South Korea’s Hee Kyung Seo. Feng and Seo shot 68, and Lang had a 65.
“I’ve been working really hard at being focused on every shot,” Lang said. “I lose my focus pretty easy, so that’s been my goal and I’m doing it pretty well. It’s going to be my goal on the weekend to just try to be in every shot, so if I can do that, I’ll be right here on Sunday and I’ll be happy.”
Rookie Sandra Changkija, the first-round leader after a 63, was 7 under after a 72. U.S. Women’s Open champion So Yeon Ryu (65) also was in the group at 7 under along with Lexi Thompson (69), Karin Sjodin (68), Katie Futcher (67), Chella Choi (66) and Sun Young Yoo (67).
Second-ranked Stacy Lewis, a two-time winner this season, was 6 under after a 64.
Michelle Wie, trying to break out of a season-long slump, shot her second straight 70, breaking par for only the third time in 19 rounds this year. She also made her first cut of the season.
• Travelers Championshp
CROMWELL, Conn. — Defending champion Fredrik Jacobson shot a 4-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead in the suspended second round.
The Swede had a 9-under 131 total. He’s trying to join Phil Mickelson, the 2001 and 2002 winner, as the only players to successfully defend a title at River Highlands.
Charley Hoffman opened with a par and birdied the next five holes to move within a stroke of the lead before rain suspended play for the day.
• U.S. Women’s Public Links
NESHANIC STATION, N.J. — Ashlan Ramsey and Kyung Kim advanced to the 36-hole final, each winning two matches at Neshanic Valley.
The 16-year-old Ramsey, from Milledgeville, Ga., beat Grace Na of Alameda, Calif., 3 and 1 in the morning quarterfinals, and edged Kim Kaufman of Clark, S.D., 1 up in the semifinals.
The 18-year-old Kim, from Chandler, Ariz., topped Lakareber Abe of Angleton, Texas, 1 up in the quarterfinals, and edged Alice Jeong of Gardena, Calif., 3 and 2 in the semifinals.
The tournament is limited to players who don’t hold privileges at any course that doesn’t extend playing privileges to the general public.
