Feng leads in rainy first round
39 players still on the course when play suspended
BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Shanshan Feng had her best round in the U.S. Women’s Open, and the first-round lead.
Afternoon rain and lightning forced officials to suspend play for more than two hours Thursday in the biggest event in women’s golf, and play was stopped because of darkness with 39 players still on the course. They will return early Friday to complete the round at Trump National Golf Course.
The weather was the only hitch for the players and the USGA, which took a lot of criticism for failing to move the $5 million event to another course after comments by President Donald Trump about women.
Despite fears of protests, the first day was uneventful.
There were no demonstrators. The golf was excellent and Feng was outstanding, shooting a 6-under 66 in a tournament in which she has rarely played well in her 10 seasons as a professional in the United States. It marked the first time the 27-year-old from China broke 70 in 42 Open rounds.
Amy Yang of South Korea, who has had two seconds, a third and a fourth in this event in the past five years, was a shot behind.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand played in the same threesome with Feng and was tied for third at 68 with topranked So Yeon Ryu of South Korea.
Carlota Ciganda also was 4 under with a hole left. She would have to eagle the par5 18th to get a share of the lead.
Former Open winner Cristie Kerr, who played with back spasms, and Megan Khang were the best U.S. finishers at 69.
Feng, who has never finished better than fourth in the Open (2012), started her round on the 10th hole and played the back side in 5 under, rolling in five birdies. She added another at No. 1 and then parred her last eight holes.
“I started the round very great,” said Feng, who lipped out on two birdie putts on her final nine. “I mean, I had three birdies in the first four holes and then after that, I mean, I just felt so comfortable about everything.”
Feng had to push it to get to Trump National. She played in a tournament in China that was run by her sponsor last week and her flight to Beijing was delayed. She did not arrive in New Jersey until around noon Monday, and did more sleeping than playing over the next three days. Everything worked out. “I just had a great day so, hopefully, the next three days that I can perform well, also, and let’s see what happens,” said Feng, who has a win and three other top-10 finishes this season.
Feng was the hottest player on the tour at the end of last year, winning her last two starts and finishing eighth or better in her final seven events. She won the major LPGA Championship in 2012 for the first of her seven LPGA Tour titles.
Yang had six birdies and a bogey in her round. She took advantage of the back nine, playing it in 4 under.
The 27-year-old who now calls Orlando, Fla., home, refused to say this would be the year she won the Open.
Ko, who had the lead going into the final round last year, was tied with Feng at 6 under after 13 holes. She bogeyed her 14th and then the last.
Ryu, the only two-time winner on the tour this year, had four birdies. Kerr had five birdies and two bogeys.