Sarah Jane Smith and Karrie Webb still remain four off the lead when play was suspended due to darkness for the second straight day at the JBTC Founders Cup in Phoenix.
Both Smith and Webb had to complete their first rounds at 6.30am Friday morning local time, before they had a quick turnaround to start their second round. Webb had the better first round, she posted a five-under-par to be three back from first round leader, American Stacy Lewis. While Smith posted a two-under-par and was in a tie for 45th.
Smith started her second round with eight straight pars before she birdied the par 3 17th to go out in 35. She then eagled the par 5, 2nd, before posting back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. Her flawless round of five-under-par 67 saw her catapult into a share of eighth when play was called.
Webb also started on the back nine at the Wildfire Golf Club in round 2 and got off to a slow start with a bogey, before she parred the next eight holes. Another bogey on the 1st, her 10th, saw her drop back to three-under, but the two-time winner of the Founders Cup rallied with four birdies in her closing eight holes to sign for a two-under-par 70.
South Korean Ha Na Jang leads at 11-under-par. Jang was on fire when play was suspended, she was seven-under-par thru 11 holes. She started on the 10th and birdied the 11th, 13th, 14th, 17th and 18th to go out in 31. She also birdied the 1st and 2nd when she had to call it a day due to darkness.
Fellow compatriot Hyo Yoo Kim is in the clubhouse at 10-under-par after rounds of 65 and 69. Sharing third place at nine-under-par is American Stacy Lewis (71) and American Kim Kaufman who still has seven-holes to play.
Unfortunately for the remaining three Australians in the field, it looks as though they will all miss the week-end. The cut looks likely to be two-under, maybe one-under-par unless conditions change dramatically.
Sarah Kemp and Minjee Lee have finished her second rounds, they are at one-over-par and three-over-respectively. Kemp is currently tied for 103rd position, while Lee is tied for 118th. Katherine Kirk is at further back at seven-over-par, with seven holes to play.