ERIN, Wis. — Mao Saigo already received her first main title this yr. She’s placing herself in place for one more on the U.S. Ladies’s Open.
Saigo shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take the second-round lead at Erin Hills. At 8-under 136, the 23-year-old Japanese participant had a three-stroke benefit over a bunch of six led by top-ranked Nelly Korda.
If Saigo maintains this tempo, she would end at 16 underneath to match the rating Brooks Koepka had in successful the U.S. Open at Erin Hills in 2017. Koepka matched a U.S. Open report.
Saigo was requested whether or not 16 underneath is perhaps inside attain.
“It is extremely troublesome to check,” she mentioned by means of an intepreter. “All I can say is that I’ll do my finest, and in consequence, I wish to make outcome.”
Saigo received the Chevron Championship in a playoff outdoors Houston simply over a month in the past for her first LPGA Tour title.
Korda, who has by no means completed greater than a tie for eighth within the U.S. Ladies’s Open, had a 67. That is one of the best spherical she’s had within the occasion.
“I really feel like I’ve had a really sophisticated relationship with U.S. Opens,” Korda mentioned, “however I am pleased to be within the place I’m heading into the weekend.”
She was 5 underneath with Hinako Shibuno (69), Sarah Schmelzel (68), Maja Stark (69), Yealimi Noh (71) and 2020 U.S. Ladies’s Open champion A Lim Kim (71). Jing Yan (69), Lin Grant (69), Chiara Tamburlini (71) and Jinhee Im (72) have been 4 underneath.
After not making a birdie till her 18th gap Thursday, Korda had seven of them Friday due to her improved placing.
“Actually, I used to be hitting actually good putts yesterday,” Korda mentioned. “I used to be hitting it precisely the place I wished to they usually simply weren’t falling. It was a kind of days. Right this moment I did the identical factor.”
Kim was considered one of 18 rivals nonetheless on the course ending their rounds when climate issues halted play for about 54 minutes. Kim was alone in second place at 6 underneath and enjoying No. 17 when the delay occurred.
The 29-year-old from South Korea mentioned she waited out the delay in a automotive. Kim then returned to make par on No. 17 earlier than bogeying the par-5 18th to fall again right into a tie for second.
Kim mentioned she nonetheless likes the place she stands halfway by means of the match.
“Actually good place,” Kim mentioned. “I like to chase the chief, so let me see.”
Saigo made certain everybody could be chasing her this weekend as she bounced again from some early misfortune.
After beginning out at No. 10 and getting birdies on No. 11 and No. 12, Saigo bogeyed the par-5 No. 14 when she bought a foul break. Her third shot hit the flagstick, bounced backward and rolled all the best way to a bunker.
However she recovered by getting 4 birdies in a five-hole stretch from Nos. 16-2.
“I assumed that was not my mistake,” Saigo mentioned. “I simply thought to myself that it was simply unfortunate, after which I simply modified my thoughts.”
Play was suspended resulting from darkness Friday evening with 12 participant unable to complete.
