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Stephanie Meadow will start her second round of the US Women’s Open four shots off the lead after completing a weather interrupted opening round of 71 at Pinehurst No 2 in North Carolina.
The Royal Portrush golfer, making her debut in the professional ranks, resumed this morning on level par with two holes left to play but a dropped shot on the 17th saw her slip into a share of eighth place, four behind the overnight leader Stacy Lewis.
Meadow, who turned professional after the Curtis Cup earlier this week, made a flying start to life in the paid ranks and reached the turn in two under. And while three bogeys on the way home undid much of that good work, Meadow can be more than satisfied with her play at the challenging Pinehurst layout.
Lewis by one stroke after shooting 67 while 11-year-old Lucy Li shot an eight over 78 yesterday. The top-ranked women’s player in the world found three birdies on her way around and her fellow American Michelle Wie is a shot back after mixing five birdies with two bogeys.
Yet the main focus at the Pinehurst Resort was on the exploits of Li — at 11 the youngest qualifier to compete at the US Women’s Open after beating the record of Lexi Thompson, who qualified for the 2007 tournament aged 12.
The Californian amateur, who signed for birdies on the first and fifth holes but added three bogeys, two double bogeys and triple bogey to her card, trails Lewis by 11 shots.
“It was a lot of fun,” Li said of her round. “I kind of struggled today, but it was great.”
More than a dozen players failed to break 80. “I’m happy I broke 80,” Li added, “because I got two doubles and a triple and that can really ruin a score.”
“I guess I am glad that I got it over with, but I’m also excited for tomorrow.”
Asked what her plan was for the rest of the day, Li grinned and said, “Eat some more ice cream.”
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