Kim grabs two-shot lead in Open
Overcomes weather at Kingsbarns Links
ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — InKyung Kim, the best player in women’s golf right now, emerged from the cold and wet with a 4-under-par 68 to build a two-shot lead in the Women’s British Open going into the weekend. A two-time winner on the LPGA Tour over the past two months, Kim dropped only one shot in some of the worst conditions at Kingsbarns Golf Links and reached the halfway point at 11-under 133.
She was two shots clear of Lexi Thompson and Georgia Hall of England.
Kim displayed a remarkable fortitude in weather that veered erratically toward the end of the day between bright sunshine and torrential downpours. The South Korean, 29, atoned for her lone bogey with three birdies and an eagle on the 538-yard 11th hole.
Still, perhaps the most significant move came from Thompson, the world’s No. 2 player.
Two over par and birdie-free after nine-holes, the big-hitting Floridian played the homeward nine in 30 with six birdies — five in succession.
First-round leader Michelle Wie did not fare so well. The 27-year old American made only one birdie in a 76 that left her seven shots off the pace and in a tie for 21st with two rounds left.
Wie has not won since the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2.
■ At Akron, Ohio, Jimmy Walker endured rain delays of nearly five hours and shot a 5-under 65 to build a two-shot lead at the Bridgestone Invitational.
Walker finally saw good results in a year marked by coping with Lyme disease and bouts of fatigue. The timing couldn’t be better for Walker, who defends his PGA Championship title next week.
He made birdie from short range on both par 3s on the back nine at Firestone and finished two rounds at 7-under 133.
Thomas Pieters of Belgium missed a 6-foot birdie chance on the 18th hole and shot 70. He was two shots behind.
Rory Mcilroy had a 69 and was among those three shots back, while Jordan Spieth finished with two straight birdies and was four behind.
■ At Reno, Richy Werenski shot a 6-under 66, good for 15 points in modified Stableford scoring, to take a two-point lead into the weekend at the Barracuda Championship.
Werenski had six birdies and an
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eagle on No. 18 against two bogeys to put him at 26 points, two better than second-place Stuart Appleby at Montreaux Golf and Country Club.
Luke List, Ben Martin, Greg Owen and Dicky Pride are tied for third with 23 points.
■ At Blaine, Minn., two-time tournament winner Kenny Perry shot a 7-under 65 to hold a share of the lead after the first round of the 3M Championship.
Perry, who won in Minnesota in 2014 and 2015, opened his round with six consecutive birdies. He finished with another one to join Mike Goodes atop the leaderboard at TPC Twin Cities.
Scott Verplank, Marco Dawson, Gene Sauers and Jay Haas finished at 6 under. Steve Flesch, Colin Montgomerie and Brandt Jobe were among those to card 67s.
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