Aussies off to Great Start in Open
In what has been a tremendous start for the Aussie contingent, Queenslander Katherine Kirk and WA`s amateur Minjee Lee fired one-under-par rounds of 69 to share third place, whilst two-time champion Karrie Webb is a further shot back and tied for sixth.
American and Rolex World No.1 Stacy Lewis leads the way after a superb three-under-par 67 and leads by one over fellow compatriot Michelle Wie. Lewis` round was impressive, she recorded three birdies and no bogeys after hitting 17 out of 18 greens in regulation.
Unfortunately play was suspended at 7.12pm local time due to dangerous weather int he area and was officially called at 7.55pm. 30 players will resume their rounds at 6.45am on Friday morning local time.
Queenslander Katherine Kirk`s form has been improving and the 32 year-old was pleased with her start. \"Even par is always a good scores in a U.S. Open. And I would have expected the course to get tougher the next three days, as well. Unless we get rain. So, yeah, I`ll be happy if I`m even at the end of the week.\"
Lee mixed two birdies and an eagle with three bogies during her round. \"I had a pretty good round today, I guess, considering how I hit it. I chipped and putted pretty good. And there`s always room for improvement. I`m hoping for every round a little bit more improvement,\" Lee said. I think everyone is going to miss greens. It`s playing tough. So I`m just trying to get the ball to have a little fade on it, so it stops, it holds the greens. Yeah, just trying to get that shape into my head,\" she added.
Asked about her eagle on the par 5 5th hole, Lee said \"Just hit my drive down the left side and it just kind of rolled all the way down to like the bottom bit there. And I hit hybrid on just, not on the green, but about a yard off the green to the right and I putted it in. So, yeah, it was good.\"
Webb said after her round \"I did have good feelings here. I came a couple of weeks ago ahead of -- before the men played. And I loved it as soon as I was here. It does really remind me of Sand Belt golf in Melbourne, where you don`t always have a perfect lie, even in the fairway. And you have to be creative around the greens. And that`s definitely a recipe to play well in Melbourne and it is here, as well.\"
Rebecca Artis is also up there, when play was halted she was at one-over-par after 16 holes and tied for 11th. South Australia`s Stephanie Na and ACT`s Nikki Canberra are tied for 50th at four-over. Queensland`s Sarah Jane Smtih posted a 76 to be tied for 77th. Unfortunately Stacey Keating didnt have a great day, she is well back after signing for an 84.