Olivia Mehaffey carded a much-improved one-over par round of 72 but ultimately fell four shots shy of the cut mark as the US Women’s Open reached its halfway point at Champions Golf Club.
Taking on the Cyprus Creek course on Friday after carding an opening 77 around the Jackrabbit Course the day before, Mehaffey posted a birdie and two bogeys but was left with far too much to do to make the weekend with the cut falling at plus-three.
In truth, it was always going to be a big ask for Mehaffey this week given she hadn’t been since in competition since making her maiden Major cut at the ANA Inspiration back in September. However, the 23-year old will still have a vested interested in the next two rounds with her Arizona State teammate, Linn Grant in outright second spot at four-under par.
Mehaffey’s fellow Sun Devil amateur fired four birdies in her second straight round of 69 and trails Japan’s Hinako Shibuno who posted a four-under 67 to lead the final major of the golfing year into its weekend at seven-under par. The Japanese star rose to sudden fame in the summer of 2019 when she won the Women’s British Open at Woburn, the first major for the 22-year-old and her first time playing outside Japan.
“No pressure whatsoever,” Shibuno said of her three shot lead. “I’m playing a major in the United States, unlike when I was at the British Open, where I feel like I am starting from scratch.”
ASU sophomore Grant made her U.S. Women’s Open debut two years ago as an 18-year-old at Shoal Creek and was tied for fourth going into the weekend until closing with rounds of 78-81. She’ll hope to have learned much from that experience and goes into the weekend leading six amateurs who successfully made the cut in Houston.
Jin Young Ko, the No. 1 player in the world, had a 70 and made the cut with two shots to spare, leaving her eight shots behind. Women’s PGA champion Sei Young Kim had a 69 and was six shots behind. Nelly Korda, the No.3 player in the world who hasn’t competed in two months because of back pain, was among those who missed the cut. That list included Lexi Thompson and Mirim Lee, who won the ANA Inspiration in September.
- Full scoring HERE
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