Shanshan takes early US Open lead

BEDMINSTER: China’s Feng Shanshan shrugged off the effects of jet lag to fire a six-underpar 66 for the clubhouse lead in the weather-disrupted opening round of the US Women’s Open at Trump National on Thursday.

The Olympic bronze medalist took advantage of calm morning conditions with a sizzling opening nine of five-under 31 to lead a pack that included perennial Women’s Open contender Amy Yang, world number one Ryu So-yeon and former number one Lydia Ko.

A heavy thundershower interrupted the afternoon wave for two hours five minutes and play was called off due to failing light with 39 players needing to return early on Friday to finish.

Feng, who played an event last week in China and arrived in Bedminster exhausted on Monday after an overnight flight, scored in bursts with two batches of three birdies in a bogey-free round at the course some 50 miles west of Manhattan.

“I had three birdies in the first four holes and then after that I just felt so comfortable about everything,” said Feng, who had never broken 70 in 10 previous Women’s Open appearances.

South Korean Yang, who has finished top four in all but one of the last five championships, was one back in second place after a five-under 67.

Ryu, winner of this year’s ANA Inspiration major, birdied three of her last five holes for a 68, w h i l e New Zealander Ko slipped from six under with two late bogeys in her 68 to also share third on the leaderboard.

Late starter Carlota Ciganda of Spain also stood at four-under but with one hole to finish, while 15-yearold amateur Rachel Heck, the youngest player in the 156-player field, was three-under after 13 holes.

Rio Games silver medallist Ko played in a group with Feng and gold medallist Park In-bee (77) in an Olympic podium threesome and bogeyed the last after hitting a wedge from the fringe rather than putting through the frog’s hair. Reuters

Shanshan Feng