Stacy Lewis moves into position for title run at US Women’s Open, 3 behind leader Amy Yang
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Stacy Lewis
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FROM GOLF WEEK
LANCASTER, Pennsylvania – Stacy Lewis, one of the best big-picture thinkers
on the LPGA Tour, was gracious in defeat at Pinehurst last June, giving friend
Michelle Wie her due while being honest about what a Wie U.S. Women’s
Open victory really meant for the LPGA.
Still, Lewis charged on Sunday with a 66 over No. 2 and finished second. Lewis isn’t in the business of collecting runner-up medals. She’s eager to win, whether it’s in a family card game of Jerky Jack or on the biggest stage in the women’s game.
Today (Saturday), at the 70th U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club, Lewis will join leader Amy Yang in the final group. Officials are expecting spectacular crowds this weekend, which plays right into the hand of Lewis, who likes where she stands on the board: three shots behind Yang, who has seven top-5 finishes in the majors but no wins.
In fact, Yang has twice played in the final pairing on Sunday at the U.S. Women’s Open. In 2012, she finished runner-up to Na Yeon Choi and last year played alongside Wie, shooting 74 to come in fourth.
“It's been a really long time since I felt that way over the ball,” Lewis said of her ballstriking Friday in her second-round 67.
“It's nice when you are tapping in a couple 5-irons.”
A couple of stray hybrids on Lewis’ closing holes, Nos. 8 and 9, were her only regrets. She pushed her approach shot on the par-4 ninth and left herself with a difficult up and down, making bogey.
“At No. 9, that miss has got to be left all day,” she said. “More than anything that's what I'm kicking myself about.”
Yang’s 66 was highlighted by a stretch of four consecutive birdies, on Nos. 11-14. She finished the first two rounds at 7-under 133. Japan’s Shiho Oyama matched Yang's 66, the day’s low round, to share second place with Lewis.
Yang, a 25-year-old South Korean with two LPGA victories, has the game of a player who should win more.
“I know the kind of pressure that is,” Yang said, “and I think I can handle that now.”
Eleven players are under par after two rounds at the soft, long, yet lovely Lancaster. World No. 1 Inbee Park is among them at 2 under. Like many players, Park lamented over the number of putts she left short Friday.
“It’s hard to think that you have to smash the putts at a U.S. Open,” said Park, a two-time champion at this event.
Wie powered through some hip pain on the hilly terrain, delighting fans with a 2-under 68. She’s even par for the championship and tied for 12th.
“It is a little bit tough,” Wie said of her injured left leg. “But tape it up, brace it up and good to go.
Lewis, whose 11 LPGA victories include two majors, started off shakily in this championship but has played the past 24 holes in 6 under. She said the closing 66 at Pinehurst is a reminder of how fast things can turn around at this event.
“That's what I was telling myself on the front nine yesterday,” she said. “You can have nine bad holes and still win this golf tournament.”
Lewis rented a house this week for her tight-knit team. The tournament’s TV coverage was on in the house and she walked away. She’d prefer to spend her nights playing cards. Anything to keep her mind off the difficult task ahead.
So, did she win at Jerky Jack?
“Of course I won,” she said.
Spoken like a champion.
Scots Catriona Matthew, Heather MacRae and Kylie Walker all missed the cut
SCOREBOARD
par 140 (2x70)
Still, Lewis charged on Sunday with a 66 over No. 2 and finished second. Lewis isn’t in the business of collecting runner-up medals. She’s eager to win, whether it’s in a family card game of Jerky Jack or on the biggest stage in the women’s game.
Today (Saturday), at the 70th U.S. Women’s Open at Lancaster Country Club, Lewis will join leader Amy Yang in the final group. Officials are expecting spectacular crowds this weekend, which plays right into the hand of Lewis, who likes where she stands on the board: three shots behind Yang, who has seven top-5 finishes in the majors but no wins.
In fact, Yang has twice played in the final pairing on Sunday at the U.S. Women’s Open. In 2012, she finished runner-up to Na Yeon Choi and last year played alongside Wie, shooting 74 to come in fourth.
“It's been a really long time since I felt that way over the ball,” Lewis said of her ballstriking Friday in her second-round 67.
“It's nice when you are tapping in a couple 5-irons.”
A couple of stray hybrids on Lewis’ closing holes, Nos. 8 and 9, were her only regrets. She pushed her approach shot on the par-4 ninth and left herself with a difficult up and down, making bogey.
“At No. 9, that miss has got to be left all day,” she said. “More than anything that's what I'm kicking myself about.”
Yang’s 66 was highlighted by a stretch of four consecutive birdies, on Nos. 11-14. She finished the first two rounds at 7-under 133. Japan’s Shiho Oyama matched Yang's 66, the day’s low round, to share second place with Lewis.
Yang, a 25-year-old South Korean with two LPGA victories, has the game of a player who should win more.
“I know the kind of pressure that is,” Yang said, “and I think I can handle that now.”
Eleven players are under par after two rounds at the soft, long, yet lovely Lancaster. World No. 1 Inbee Park is among them at 2 under. Like many players, Park lamented over the number of putts she left short Friday.
“It’s hard to think that you have to smash the putts at a U.S. Open,” said Park, a two-time champion at this event.
Wie powered through some hip pain on the hilly terrain, delighting fans with a 2-under 68. She’s even par for the championship and tied for 12th.
“It is a little bit tough,” Wie said of her injured left leg. “But tape it up, brace it up and good to go.
Lewis, whose 11 LPGA victories include two majors, started off shakily in this championship but has played the past 24 holes in 6 under. She said the closing 66 at Pinehurst is a reminder of how fast things can turn around at this event.
“That's what I was telling myself on the front nine yesterday,” she said. “You can have nine bad holes and still win this golf tournament.”
Lewis rented a house this week for her tight-knit team. The tournament’s TV coverage was on in the house and she walked away. She’d prefer to spend her nights playing cards. Anything to keep her mind off the difficult task ahead.
So, did she win at Jerky Jack?
“Of course I won,” she said.
Spoken like a champion.
Scots Catriona Matthew, Heather MacRae and Kylie Walker all missed the cut
SCOREBOARD
par 140 (2x70)
1 | Amy Yang | 67 | 66 | . | 133 | |||||||
T2 | Stacy Lewis | 69 | 67 | 136 | ||||||||
T2 | Shiho Oyama | 70 | 66 | 136 | ||||||||
4 | Marina Alex | 66 | 71 | 137 | ||||||||
T5 | Inbee Park | 68 | 70 | 138 | ||||||||
T5 | Jane Park | 66 | 72 | 138 | ||||||||
T5 | Rumi Yoshiba | 70 | 68 | 138 | ||||||||
T5 | Morgan Pressel | 68 | 70 | 138 | ||||||||
T5 | In Gee Chun | 68 | 70 | 138 | ||||||||
T5 | Karrie Webb | 66 | 72 | 138 | ||||||||
11 | Min Lee | 71 | 68 | 139 | ||||||||
T12 | Angela Stanford | 71 | 69 | 140 | ||||||||
T12 | Sei-Young Kim | 73 | 67 | 140 | ||||||||
T12 | Mi Hyang Lee | 68 | 72 | 140 | ||||||||
T12 | Pernilla Lindberg | 70 | 70 | 140 | ||||||||
T12 | Michelle Wie | 72 | 68 | 140 | ||||||||
T12 | So Yeon Ryu | 72 | 68 | 140 | ||||||||
T12 | Lizette Salas | 71 | 69 | 140 | ||||||||
T12 | Brittany Lang | 70 | 70 | 140 | ||||||||
T20 | Lee Lopez | 71 | 70 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Ai Suzuki | 70 | 71 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Candie Kung | 71 | 70 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Na Yeon Choi | 67 | 74 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Q Baek | 70 | 71 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Ryann O'Toole | 71 | 70 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Ayako Uehara | 71 | 70 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Azahara Munoz | 69 | 72 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Jung-Min Lee | 70 | 71 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Kris Tamulis | 72 | 69 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Megan Khang | 71 | 70 | 141 | ||||||||
T20 | Lala Anai | 71 | 70 | 141 | ||||||||
T32 | Laura Davies | 70 | 72 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Erika Kikuchi | 71 | 71 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | M.J. Hur | 73 | 69 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Paula Creamer | 69 | 73 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Muni He | 68 | 74 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Lydia Ko | 70 | 72 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Austin Ernst | 68 | 74 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Teresa Lu | 71 | 71 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Lee-Anne Pace | 73 | 69 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Jenny Shin | 74 | 68 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Sydnee Michaels | 68 | 74 | 142 | ||||||||
T32 | Emma Talley | 70 | 72 | 142 | ||||||||
T44 | Hannah O'Sullivan | 72 | 71 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Brooke Henderson | 70 | 73 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Alison Lee | 70 | 73 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Lexi Thompson | 71 | 72 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | I.K. Kim | 74 | 69 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Maria Balikoeva | 74 | 69 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Charley Hull | 71 | 72 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Mo Martin | 71 | 72 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Gerina Piller | 71 | 72 | 143 | ||||||||
T44 | Elizabeth Nagel | 68 | 75 | 143 | ||||||||
T54 | Kim Kaufman | 72 | 72 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Karine Icher | 73 | 71 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Chella Choi | 71 | 73 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Ha Na Jang | 72 | 72 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Mariel Galdiano | 70 | 74 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Jaye Marie Green | 71 | 73 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Sakura Yokomine | 71 | 73 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Danielle Kang | 71 | 73 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Mirim Lee | 71 | 73 | 144 | ||||||||
T54 | Haruka Morita-Wanyaolu | 71 | 73 | 144 | ||||||||
.MISSED | CUT | |||||||||||
T64 | Hee Young Park | 72 | 73 | . | . | 145 | ||||||
T64 | Yani Tseng | 73 | 72 | 145 | ||||||||
T64 | Minjee Lee | 73 | 72 | 145 | ||||||||
T64 | Mariajo Uribe | 74 | 71 | 145 | ||||||||
T64 | Gwladys Nocera | 74 | 71 | 145 | ||||||||
T64 | Dewi Claire Schreefel | 75 | 70 | 145 | ||||||||
T70 | Maria Fassi | 74 | 72 | . | 146 | |||||||
T70 | Beatriz Recari | 73 | 73 | 146 | ||||||||
T70 | Anna Nordqvist | 71 | 75 | 146 | ||||||||
T70 | Hyo-Joo Kim | 70 | 76 | 146 | ||||||||
T70 | Regina Plasencia | 75 | 71 | 146 | ||||||||
T70 | Eun-Hee Ji | 75 | 71 | . | 146 | |||||||
T70 | Shanshan Feng | 73 | 73 | 146 | ||||||||
T77 | Mina Harigae | 71 | 76 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Belen Mozo | 72 | 75 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Moriya Jutanugarn | 75 | 72 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Christina Kim | 72 | 75 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Julieta Granada | 73 | 74 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Catriona Matthew | 74 | 73 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Hans Reimers | 73 | 74 | . | 147 | |||||||
T77 | Amelia Lewis | 74 | 73 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Ji Young Oh | 73 | 74 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Nikolette Schroeder | 73 | 74 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Xiyu Lin | 74 | 73 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Haru Nomura | 75 | 72 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Laura Diaz | 72 | 75 | 147 | ||||||||
T77 | Thidapa Suwannapura | 72 | 75 | 147 | ||||||||
T91 | Stephanie Connelly | 71 | 77 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Katherine Kirk | 75 | 73 | . | 148 | |||||||
T91 | Cristie Kerr | 75 | 73 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Wei-Ling Hsu | 71 | 77 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Alejandra Llaneza | 74 | 74 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Gaby Lopez | 72 | 76 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Daniela Darquea | 78 | 70 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Tiffany Joh | 72 | 76 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Mika Miyazato | 77 | 71 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | Suzann Pettersen | 79 | 69 | 148 | ||||||||
T91 | So Young Lee | 77 | 71 | . | 148 | |||||||
T102 | Suzuka Yamaguchi | 73 | 76 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Mallory Blackwelder | 75 | 74 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Celine Boutier (am) | 76 | 73 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Jodi Ewart Shadoff | 75 | 74 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Carlota Ciganda | 72 | 77 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Brittany Lincicome | 75 | 74 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Dylan Kim | 75 | 74 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Nontaya Srisawang | 74 | 75 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Min Gyeong Youn | 73 | 76 | 149 | ||||||||
T102 | Sarah Jane Smith | 76 | 73 | MC | MC | - | - | - | 149 | |||
T112 | Lauren Taylor | 75 | 75 | . | 150 | |||||||
T112 | Ilhee Lee | 82 | 68 | 150 | ||||||||
T112 | Sandra Gal | 77 | 73 | 150 | ||||||||
T112 | Breanna Elliott | 73 | 77 | 150 | ||||||||
T112 | Lindsey Weaver | 76 | 74 | 150 | ||||||||
T112 | Ariya Jutanugarn | 79 | 71 | 150 | ||||||||
T112 | Pornanong Phatlum | 77 | 73 | 150 | ||||||||
T112 | Ally McDonald | 74 | 76 | 150 | ||||||||
T120 | Jessica Korda | 81 | 70 | 151 | ||||||||
T120 | Sun Young Yoo | 79 | 72 | 151 | ||||||||
T120 | Line Vedel | 77 | 74 | 151 | ||||||||
T120 | Bertine Strauss | 74 | 77 | 151 | ||||||||
T120 | Lilia Vu | 77 | 74 | 151 | ||||||||
T120 | Kristen Gillman | 75 | 76 | 151 | ||||||||
T126 | Holly Aitchison | 75 | 77 | . | 152 | |||||||
T126 | Jennifer Song | 76 | 76 | 152 | ||||||||
T126 | Caroline Masson | 75 | 77 | 152 | ||||||||
T126 | Beth Lillie | 77 | 75 | 152 | ||||||||
T126 | Su-Hyun Oh | 79 | 73 | 152 | ||||||||
T126 | Angella Then | 76 | 76 | 152 | ||||||||
T132 | Stephanie Meadow | 79 | 74 | 153 | ||||||||
T132 | Sarah Burnham | 79 | 74 | 153 | ||||||||
T132 | Haley Italia | 77 | 76 | 153 | ||||||||
T132 | Kylie Walker | 78 | 75 | 153 | ||||||||
T132 | Christina Foster | 71 | 82 | 153 | ||||||||
T137 | Yuting Shi | 79 | 75 | . | 154 | |||||||
T137 | Samantha Wagner | 80 | 74 | 154 | ||||||||
T137 | Lauren Doughtie | 76 | 78 | 154 | ||||||||
T137 | Georgia Hall | 78 | 76 | 154 | ||||||||
T137 | Birdie Kim | 74 | 80 | 154 | ||||||||
T137 | Meena Lee | 77 | 77 | 154 | ||||||||
T137 | Natalie Gulbis | 81 | 73 | 154 | ||||||||
T144 | Jennifer Park | 81 | 74 | 155 | ||||||||
T144 | Babe Liu | 77 | 78 | . | 155 | |||||||
T144 | Brooke Pancake | 76 | 79 | 155 | ||||||||
T147 | Yanhong Pan | 77 | 79 | 156 | ||||||||
T147 | Ayaka Matsumori | 75 | 81 | 156 | ||||||||
T147 | Heather MacRae | 80 | 76 | 156 | ||||||||
150 | Caroline Hedwall | 80 | 77 | 157 | ||||||||
151 | Misuzu Narita | 79 | 79 | 158 | ||||||||
152 | Dori Carter | 80 | 80 | 160 | ||||||||
153 | Lori Adams | 84 | 77 | 161 | ||||||||
154 | Nikki Long | 86 | 79 | . |
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