Kim leads weather-savaged US Open

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Kim In-kyung led the thunderstorm-delayed US Women’s Open when it was suspended for the 2nd day running.

South Korea’s Kim In-kyung was in the lead when the thunderstorm-delayed US Women’s Open was suspended by darkness for the second day running – again with much of the field still on the course.

At 4-under on the 15th hole having opened with a one-under 70 on the East Course at The Broadmoor in Colorado, Kim, 23 and bidding for her first Major title, was leading by two strokes from three Americans when darkness halted play in the second round.

The Korean has enjoyed much success in her last three Women’s Open appearances, tying for third in 2008 and 2009 and finishing fourth last year.

Stacy Lewis was at 2-under after 16 hole and tied for second with US veteran Wendy Ward (15 holes) and unheralded US amateur Amy Anderson, who was had yet to tee off in the second round.

Lewis, who won the year’s first Major and her maiden LPGA Tour title at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April and lead this event with a 3-under 68 when the delayed first round was completed earlier in the day, held a three-shot lead after seven holes of her second round.

However, she began to self-destruct when play resumed after yet another storm delay, this time for an hour. carding a bogey at the 14th and a double bogey at the 15th.

“I played really good all day,” Lewis opined, but I was frustrated with the way I finished. It’s unfortunate we didn’t get done today.”

Ward had opened with a 73, but she produced bogey-free golf in the second round with four birdies in the first 15 holes before played was halted for the day.

Only 33 players in the field managed to complete 36 holes, including clubhouse leaders Angela Stanford (70) and fellow American Lizette Salas (73) who both finished with even-par 142s.

Paula Creamer, the defending champion, kept herself in the mix after opening with a 72 and was one-under for the tournament after 16 holes.

She began the second round by sinking a 30-foot birdie putt at the par-four 10th, her opening hole, and picked up another shot at the driveable par-four second with an exquisite chip to within two feet.

However, Taiwan’s world number one Yani Tseng, the hot favourite who clinched the LPGA Championship two weeks ago, did not bring out her A game on Friday, particularly when it came trio putting.

Having opened with a 73, Tseng was seven shots off the pace after 16 holes, thanks to four bogeys and three birdies.

Hawaiian Michelle Wie, who has not finished in the top 10 of a Major since 2006, was in serious danger of missing the cut after battling to a 78.

Cristie Kerr, co-leader overnight with compatriot Anderson, returned to the course in the morning to complete her first round facing a difficult shot out of a greenside bunker at her 16th hole, the seventh, and was unable to get up and down to save par.

Kerr also bogeyed the eighth before parring her final hole for a level-par 71. Like the 18-year-old Anderson, she had yet start her second round on Friday.

“I won the Open in Pine Needles (in 2007) when I shot even the first day. It’s not a bad omen,” the World No 2 said.

The Top 10 leaderboard after day two

-4 In-Kyung Kim after 14 holes
-2 Stacy Lewis after 16 holes
-2 Wendy Ward after 15 holes
-2 Amy Anderson (a) did not start (DNS)
-1 Paula Creamer after 16 holes
-1 Ai Miyazato -1 DNS
-1 Karrie Webb -1 DNS
-1 Mika Miyazato DNS
-1 Maria Hjorth DNS
E Angela Stanford 72 70
E Lizette Salas 69 73
E Ryann O’Toole after 14 holes
E Cristie Kerr DNS
E Cindy LaCrosse DNS
E Inbee Park DNS
DNS – did not start

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