Aussie Smith surges to lead in weather-hit US Women’s Open

MIAMI: Australian Sarah Jane Smith fired a second-round 67 to grab a four-shot clubhouse lead as dangerous weather halted play at the US Women’s Open in Alabama on Friday.

Smith carded her second straight five-under round for a 10-under total of 134 at Shoal Creek, where thunderstorms led to extensive delays on a course that had been soaked earlier in the week.

Seventy-eight players were unable to complete the second round, which was to resume early Saturday morning.

Smith’s fellow Australian Su Oh made it into the clubhouse on sixunder 138 after a second-round 68. Oh said her effort included “nothing outstanding” although she putted well and dealt calmly with the challenges of the soggy course.

“It’s weird, because it’s playing longer because it’s so soft, but it’s hot so the irons are going really far,” said Oh, who said she was also constantly on the lookout for mud that might affect the flight of her ball.

Smith had shared the overnight lead with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and South Korea’s Lee Jeong-eun – who uses the numerical designator “6” with her name to distinguish her from five other Korean pros with the same name.

Ariya had birdied her first hole and was six-under for the tournament through eight holes when the horn sounded to end play for the day.

Lee, meanwhile, slipped down the leaderboard with a secondround 75 that left her eight adrift.

Smith, 33, is hoping for a breakthrough victory despite lacklustre results so far in a season in which her best finish was a tie for 26th at the Kia Classic.