Yuka Saso carded a 4-under 67 at The Olympic Club and will enter the weekend at the U.S. Women’s Open with a one-shot lead over 2019 U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6.
Saso, playing in front of a sparse crowd, finished her second day in the still locked down state of California with six birdies and two bogeys to reach the marquee position on 6 under.
“If I go in the rough, my mindset is just to go for the fairway,” said the Philippine native.
“It’s really long and like sticky, so yeah, it’s really hard to get on from it. But yeah, I’m glad that I’m a little bit good out of it.”
Lee6, meanwhile, carded a late flurry of birdies at Nos. 15, 16 and 17 to sign for a 67 and secure the solo second spot on 5 under.
The Korean was followed by Americans Megan Khang (70) and Megha Ganne (71), who sit T3 on 4 under. China’s Shanshan Feng (70) rounded out the top-5 leaders on 3 under par.
Defending U.S. Women’s Open champion A Lim Kim finished at 7 over and missed the cut.
Other notables who did not reach the weekend include former U.S. Women’s Open champions Paula Creamer (+9), Brittany Lang (+9), Cristie Kerr (+10) and Michelle Wie West (+12).
2021 U.S. Women’s Open
Top-5 Leaders: Round 2
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Yuka Saso -6 (-4)
2. Jeongeun Lee6 -5 (-4)
3. Megan Khang -4 (-1)
3. Megha Ganne -4 (E)
5. Shanshan Feng -3 (-1)
