Seventy five players make the cut at eight-over-par, with some big names missing out. Whilst Wichanee Meechai leads by two shots heading into the weekend
As we head into moving day, there are still only four players under par at the U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally. This time, it's Thai player Wichanee Meechai who holds a two shot lead at four-under-par.
The World number 158, came out of the blocks firing on Friday, with four birdies in her first four holes, after starting on the back nine. Two bogeys would follow on 15 and 18 and she would make the turn at three-under-par.
Afterwards, she spoke about her first four holes:
"To be honest, I don't know who she is the first four holes, but I'm glad that she came. But it's just like, I just know myself that I'm so nervous, I have adrenaline. The first four holes, I just played, I just picked the club that's shorter and hit it hard."
The nerves did show but the 31-year-old regrouped after a further bogey on the third dropped her to two-under-par, birdies on four and eight got her back to four-under-par and a two shot lead.
Key to her success was staying patient:
"Trying to be patient on this course, I think it's the key for me because even though you hit on the green you can three-putt very easily if you're on the wrong spots, something like that. I'm just trying to be patient, and if I can get birdies, I will go for it."
Three other players under par
American Andrea Lee had a colourful scorecard which consisted of an eagle, a double bogey, four birdies, three bogeys and nine pars. Two rounds of 69 and two back from Meechai.
"I knew it was going to be a great test of golf, Lancaster Country Club. But I love playing tough golf courses. I love grinding it out and trying to shoot under par on courses like this. It's just all about staying patient, and hopefully I'll have a pretty good weekend."
Round one leader Yuka Saso managed a one-over-par 71 and is tied with 2022 U.S. Women's Open Champion Minjee Lee in third at one-under-par. Although the course has proved extremely tough to play, the Australian loves the challenge:
"Obviously I love playing U.S. Opens. I love the challenge. I love the difficulty. I just love that I really need to think about what I'm doing and be strategic."
Big names miss the cut
You can't say that Nelly Korda doesn't go down without a fight. The American struggled to recover from a Major ending seven-over on one hole during her first round of the U.S. Women's Open. After eight holes on Friday, she reached the final cut mark of eight-over-par but two more bogeys followed (thankfully she escaped the 12th with a par) and a level par round of 70 just wasn't enough as she finished on 10-over-par. How did she assess the round?
"I mean, shot 70, made three birdies in a row on the front nine and got myself to 8-over. I knew it was going to be a tough day. There's not many low scores out here, and I was pretty far back. Tried to give it my all. That's what I do with every round. I had nothing to lose, so that was kind of like the mentality. Just go for it."
Defending Champion Allisen Corpuz won't be playing the weekend after a 75 and 77 put her at 12-over-par.
Other names who were tipped as potential winners this week but missed the cut included - Linn Grant (+9), Angel Yin (+10), Leona Maguire (+10), Rose Zhang (+11), Brooke Henderson (+12) and Lydia Ko (+13). From a British perspective Gemma Dryburgh (+10), Georgia Hall (+11), Lottie Woad (+12), Aine Donegan (+19) and Harriet Lynch (+25).
Lexi's legacy
Lexi Thompson, who announced that she will be retiring from playing professional golf full time at the end of the season, shot a 75 to add to her 78. At 13-over-par, this week at Lancaster Country Club wasn't to be her swan song, but she enjoyed the week nonetheless:
"Minus the golf, it was amazing. Yeah, it wasn't the golf that I wanted to play, obviously, but it was a special week, of course, with announcing what I did. To see all the fans out there and just to hear their chants and "go Lexis" made me smile every single shot even if I kept on bogeying. But it was a special week for sure.
"It's meant the world to me. Like I said earlier in the week, this is where my whole dream got started when I was 12. I know when I teed it up first at Pine Needles, that's where I wanted to be and playing against the best, and to continue to do so and to be playing in my 18th even though it wasn't the way I wanted to end it, it was always special every time I teed it up in a USGA event. I cherished every moment that I had."
View the full 2024 U.S. Women's Open Presented by Ally leaderboard here.
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Callaway Golf competition
Don't forget to enter our Callaway Golf competition to win this U.S. Women's Open staff bag PLUS eight dozen Supersoft Splatter golf balls - enter the competition here.
Inspired by the second women's Major of the season? Why not come and watch the best players in the world at the AIG Women's Open this summer at St Andrews. Ticket prices start from £20.
