• Park moves to the top, Sarah Jane leading Aussie

Sarah Jane Smith was the leading Australian when play was suspended due to fog during the second round of US Women’s Open at Sebonack Golf Club, Southampton, New York.

Rolex World No. 1 Inbee Park continued her tremendous and sits atop of the leaderboard at nine-under-par after firing a four-under-par in windy conditions. Park currently leads by one over fellow compatriot IK Kim (69). Then there is a three shot gap to American Lizette Salas (70) and England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff who has three holes to play.

One day after Park called the USGA “generous” for the conditions they created in round one of this week’s major championship, the 156 players in the field got a glimpse at how much more difficult Sebonack Golf Club can be when the winds pick up and the pins get tucked on the course’s tricky greens.

The wind blew steady around 15 mph for most of the day with gusts reaching 30 mph. By early evening the conditions grew worse as heavy fog moved over the course along Peconic Bay in eastern Long Island. By the time play was called for the day, only 10 players remained under par for the tournament. A total of 40 players remained on the course when play was halted due to fog and second-round play is scheduled to resume at 7 a.m. The third round will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Smith was tied for 23rd position at two-over-par and playing the 16th hole when play was called for the day. Smith who started the day tied for 17th at one-under-par, went out in two-over par 37 after a bogey, double bogey and birdie. She them parred the first five holes before posting a bogey on the par 5 15th.

Fellow Queenslander Karrie Webb is a further shot back with two holes to play. Webb was having an up and down day with five bogeys and three birdies. The two-time winner of the US Women’s Open currently shares 32nd place.

Lindsey Wright, who was in the last group, was three over thru 11 holes when she came off the course. Wright is four-over-total and tied for 44th position.

Katherine Hull-Kirk had a day she would rather forget, posting an eight-over-par 80 to finish at nine-over. Stacey Keating is the remaining Aussie in the field. Unfortunately she dropped five shots in the last three holes she played before play was called. Keating is currently at 10-over and tied for 102nd.

The cut is currently at five-over but could go out to six over by the end of the round.

Defending champion Na Yeon Choi has two to play and is at three-over par and tied for 32nd. New Zealand amateur Lydia Ko is also at three-over with two holes left in her second round.

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