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S. Korea’s Amy Yang surges to 3-stroke lead at US Womens Open

July 10, 2015
Amy Yang reacts after sinking a putt on the 15th green during the second round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Friday, July 10, 2015 in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Amy Yang reacts after sinking a putt on the 15th green during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Friday, July 10, 2015 in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

By Brian Han

South Korean golfer Amy Yang posted another gem in the second around of the U.S. Womens Open on Friday to give her a 3-stroke lead heading into the weekend.

The 25-year-old managed to shoot a field-best 4-under 66 at Lancaster Country Club to bring her total to 7-under.

Yang rattled off four consecutive birdies on the back nine to distance herself from world No. 3 Stacy Lewis who put together a solid 3-under 67 round of her own. She is currently tied for second place with a 4-under total.

Friday’s weather conditions could not have been more different.

Players played under sunny skies instead of heavy rain, which caused delays on Thursday.

But that actually didn’t make the course any easier as only 16 of 154 players were able to shoot under par.

Despite the drier weather, the fairways and greens stayed soft. This put shorter hitters at a disadvantage.

“It’s long, it’s wet,” world No. 1 Inbee Park told reporters. “I’m not the longest hitter. This is the softest green that I have ever played in the U.S. Open for a while. It’s different and the greens are tricky. They are softer, have a lot of spike marks and they are slower. It’s really different. It definitely has some tough side of it. We’ve got to hit a lot of long clubs in it and that’s the tough part.”

Park managed to head into the clubhouse with an even-par 70, which turned out to be a good score for the day. She’s at a 2-under total, which puts her in a tie for fifth with five other players.

Other notable rounds include South Korean rookie phenom Kim Sei-young who shot a 3-under 67 to put her total at even-par. She is currently in a tie for 12th place.

Kim had gotten caught up in the middle of a controversy before the tournament when her caddie was caught taking photos of course information that was not available to players yet.

As a result, he was not allowed on the premises for the remainder of the event.

World No. 2 Lydia Ko had one major hiccup in her round when she double-bogeyed the par-3 12th after making her only birdie of the day. After a 2-over 72 and a total score of 2-over, Ko will start the weekend in a tie for 31st.