The Hamilton Spectator

Feng leads in rain-delayed U.S. Women’s Open with 66

- TOM CANAVAN BEDMINSTER, N.J. —

Shanshan Feng shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 and held a one-shot lead over Amy Yang on Thursday when the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open at a quiet Trump National Golf Club was suspended by darkness.

Despite complaints over playing the biggest event in women’s golf on a course owned by President Donald Trump, there were no apparent protests Thursday over his comments about women. The road outside the club was relatively trafficfre­e and those in attendance were there for the golf.

The only problem was the weather. Lightning delayed play for 2 hours, 5 minutes late in the afternoon and 30 players were still on the course when the horn sounded to stop play for the day at 8:33 p.m. Play was scheduled to resume at 7 a.m. Friday.

Lydia Ko played in the same threesome with Feng and finished at 68 along with top-ranked So Yeon Ryu, the only two-time winner this year on the LPGA Tour. Carlota Ciganda also was 4 under with a hole left.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., finished with a two-under-par 70 score.

Feng started her round on the 10th hole and played the back side in 5 under, rolling in five birdies. The Chinese star added another at No. 1 and then parred her last eight holes. She won the major LPGA Championsh­ip in 2012 for the first of her seven LPGA Tour titles.

Yang has two seconds, a third and a fourth in the event in the last five years. The South Korean player had six birdies and a bogey. She took advantage of the back nine, playing it in 4 under.

Former Open winner Cristie Kerr and Megan Khang were the best U.S. finishers, tied at 69. Amateur Rachel Heck, the 15-year-old from Memphis, Tennessee, who is the youngster player in the field, also was at 3 under with five holes to play. Third-ranked Lexi Thompson was at 71, along with Stacy Lewis.

Defending champion Brittany Lang had a 72 in a round where the players who teed off in the morning had the better conditions. Secondrank­ed Ariya Jutanugarn shot 79.

 ?? SETH WENIG, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? China’s Shanshan Feng reacts after sinking a put on the 12th green during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament Thursday in Bedminster, N.J. Feng finished the round with a one-shot lead over Amy Yang.
SETH WENIG, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS China’s Shanshan Feng reacts after sinking a put on the 12th green during the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament Thursday in Bedminster, N.J. Feng finished the round with a one-shot lead over Amy Yang.

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