Shanshan Feng leads U.S. Women’s Open

Shanshan Feng leads U.S. Women’s Open

BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Shanshan Feng had her best round in the U.S. Women’s Open, and the first-round lead.

Afternoon rain and lightning forced officials to suspend play for more than two hours Thursday in the biggest event in women’s golf, and play was stopped because of darkness with 39 players still on the course.

The weather was the only hitch for the players and the USGA, which took a lot of criticism for failing to move the $5 million event to another course after comments by President Trump about women.

Despite fears of protests, Day 1 was uneventful.

The golf was excellent and Feng was outstanding, shooting a 6-under-par 66 in a tournament in which she rarely has played well in her 10 seasons as a professional in the United States.

Amy Yang of South Korea, who has had two seconds, a third and a fourth in this event in the past five years, was a shot behind.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand played in the same threesome with Feng and was tied for third at 68 with top-ranked So Yeon Ryu of South Korea.

Carlota Ciganda also was 4-under with a hole left.

Cristie Kerr, the 2007 Open champ who played with back spasms, and Megan Khang were the best U.S. finishers at 69.

Feng, who has not finished better than fourth in the Open (2012), started her round on the 10th hole and played the back side in 5-under, rolling in five birdies.

“I started the round very great,” said Feng, who lipped out on two birdie putts on her final nine.

Everything worked fine Thursday.

Yang had six birdies and a bogey in her round.

Ko, who had the lead going into the final round last year, was tied with Feng at 6-under after 13 holes.

Ryu, the only two-time winner on the tour this year, had four birdies.

Kerr had five birdies and two bogeys.

Tom Canavan is an Associated Press writer.

Leaderboard