Wichanee Meechai heads into the weekend with a two-shot lead at 4-under after a second-round 67 on Friday at the US Women’s Open.
Meechai, who has five professional wins globally, is hoping to become the 23rd first-time LPGA Tour winner of the event as she holds her second-ever post-round lead of any kind at Lancaster Country Club.
She carded four consecutive birdies from the 10th to start her round before making three bogeys in her next eight holes. She regrouped after that stretch, making a rebound birdie at the 4th and another at the 8th.
“The first four holes, I just picked the club that's shorter and hit it hard. I think it worked well with this course probably because you cannot be too aggressive with that, and I'm pretty close to the pin, and my putt was just pretty good this week, I think. I'm just like surprised, as well.
“Trying to be patient on this course is 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.” said Meechai, who currently ranks second in the field in strokes gained approach (+2.86). “I'm just trying to be patient, and if I can get birdies, I will go for it.”
Andrea Lee of the United States lies in second place two shots behind after signing for a 69.
Japan's Yuka Saso who held the overnight lead carded a 1-over 71 and slipped down into a share of third place at 1-under alongside Australia's Minjee Lee
75 players, notables who missed it include Rolex Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda, two-time LPGA Tour winner Rose Zhang and defending champion Allisen Corpuz, as well as major champions Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson and Patty Tavatanakit. Eighteen-time U.S. Women’s Open participant, Lexi Thompson, will also miss playing the final 36 holes in Pennsylvania.
Thompson, who announced her retirement from full-time play at the beginning of the week, closed with a second-round 75 to leave Lancaster at +13 overall. “I know when I teed it up first at Pine Needles, that's where I wanted to be and playing against the best. 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,” said Thompson. “I cherished every moment that I had.”
