JERSEY CITY, NJ — Minjee Lee weathered a tournament-best par of 8-under 64 to take a share of the lead Friday at the LPGA’s Mizuho Americas Open.
Cheyenne Knight took a 68 in the opening event to join Lee at 7-under 137 atop a tightly assembled leaderboard featuring five top-10 players and promising newcomer Rose Zhang.
Late afternoon play was suspended for 1 hour and 47 minutes due to hazardous weather conditions near Liberty National, and the last groups barely finished before nightfall on the track adjacent to the Hudson River with a great view of the New York City skyline. statue of Liberty.
Fifth seed Lee, from Australia, took eight of the first 12 holes in a bogey-free round that moved her from 55th to number one. Her score was nine shots better than her opening round.
“I think the Liberty National is the kind of course where if you play more, you have a better idea,” said Lee, an eight-time LPGA Tour winner. “So, since it’s the inaugural event, it’s the same for everyone.”
No. 3 Lydia Koe was shot after 69.
The highest-ranked Jin Young-koo (66) is ranked No. 5 under No. 6 Athaya Theticol (71), No. 8 Brooke Henderson (70), Aditi Ashok (72) and Zhang (69), a two-time NCAA singles champion. He turned pro last week and was given a sponsor waiver to play.
Jin Young-koo, Chang and Ashok had less than three holes left when play was suspended at 6pm, Koe having a birdie and bogey after play resumed. Zhang finished with three quarters in her 69, a better shot than in her professional debut. Ashok had a bogey on her last three holes.
Knight, who has three top ten finishes this year, played her last 11 holes at the 4-under.
“I think my putt has come a really long way,” said Knight, who had six birdies and two bogeys. “I’ve been hitting a lot of fairways and greens, so I have more birding opportunities.”
Lydia Ko, who plays Lee, has been up her game ever since she hit the top 10 in Thailand in February.
“Honestly, I haven’t played at this great level until this week,” said the 26-year-old. “I played better and stronger at the LET event two weeks ago, so that was a nice shift in momentum. But, yeah, you know, I would say it was a very colorful scorecard, not in a good way, not the colors of a young bird.”
Jin Young Koo said her situation was better on Friday.
“Everything was fine,” she said. “Yesterday was good too, but Butt was a little more straight to me. So I practiced a little bit last night, yeah, I had like a game, so I’m happy with it.”
Zhang was excited to make the cut, adding that she thought she might struggle with that despite winning 12 of 20 events in the past two years at Stanford.
“I think tomorrow and the day after I won’t have any expectations either; what’s more is learning what it’s like to play in a main group as a professional and go from there,” said the 20-year-old.
Ashok, who has had two top-five finishes in her last three events, is looking for her first win.
Henderson, who won in Florida in January, beat a double bogey to start shooting 70.
“It’s been kind of a strange year,” Henderson said. “I started out on such a high note by winning the first event again and has been going up and down a bit since then. Hopefully I can start the upside and get some strong finishes here in the next few weeks.”
Thitikul, who has made 5 top-ten finishes this year, reached the 7-under-12 hole but had a double-bogey 13th-fifth finish.
South Korea’s Eun-hee (69), Bronte Law (70) and American Angel Yen (70) came under 4.
First-round leader Lauren Hartlage was in a set at 3-under by 76-11 more shots than Thursday.
Lee, 64, was met on Friday by New Jersey native Marina Alex, who needed to dip after 80 on Thursday.
“I played as horrible as I could have played yesterday, so I guess I’ve learned that not every place has to be,” said Alex, whose score should be the best. “It’s a tough course and, frankly, I think I — it probably took a little more preparation on my part for yesterday.”