Shibuno opens up a three-stroke lead in U.S. Women’s Open
Hinako Shibuno can do without the “Cinderella” nickname, just not the smile. That was bright as ever Friday as the Japanese star posted a 4-under 67 and opened a three-shot lead going into the weekend of the U.S. Women’s Open.
Shibuno’s lone mistake on a damp, soft day at Champions Golf Club in Houston was a three-putt bogey on the par-3 16th at the Jackrabbit course. Her objective was to avoid dropping more shots by being overly aggressive. She wound up with a 10-foot birdie putt to restore her lead over Arizona State sophomore Linn Grant of Sweden.
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 had a 69 at Jackrabbit and will be in the final group Saturday. They will be joined by another amateur, Texas senior Kaitlyn Papp, who had a 68 at Cypress Creek and was four shots behind.
The USGA used two courses for the first time because the pandemic forced the Women’s Open to be postponed six months to December with limited daylight. The final two rounds will be at Cypress Creek, the course that previously hosted a Ryder Cup, U.S. Open and the Tour Championship on the PGA Tour.
Six amateurs made the cut, which was at 3-over 145.
Shibuno was at 7-under 135, and only 12 players were within five shots of the lead.
QBE Shootout: Kevin Na and Sean O’Hair teamed to shoot a 16-under 56 in the scramble format Friday to take the first-round lead in Naples, Florida.
Na and O’Hair had two eagles and 12 birdies on the Tiburon Golf Club’s Gold Course. O’Hair won the unofficial PGA Tour event in 2012 with Kenny Perry and 2017 with Madison’s Steve Stricker.
Ryan Palmer and Harold Varner III were second. They birdied 13 of the first 14 holes – only missing on the par-3 fifth – and added birdies on the final two holes.
Ryder Cup captain Stricker and Daniel Berger were tied for seventh at 60.