LANCASTER, Pa. - More than any other tournament on the schedule, the United States Women’s Open conducted by the USGA tests player’s patience as much as their game.
In that regard, Marina Alex and Karrie Webb proved more adept than the rest of the field in the morning wave at exercising theirs as the two co-leaders played their inward nine – the front nine on Lancaster Country Club – in 3 and 4-under-par, respectively. Alex went out in 1-under-par 35 and Webb went out in even-par 36 but both turned it on coming in and neither made a bogey on their way to a 33 and 32 to take the co-lead, one shot clear of Amy Yang as the morning wave wrapped up.
“I was patient for probably nine holes,” Alex said. “I didn’t have perfect numbers, but I was able to hit shots, in between numbers, with just hitting soft irons into the greens and kind of utilizing that to get them to stop, and made a couple of good putts there in the middle.”
If Webb’s co-lead holds, it would be the 25th time in her career that she’s held at least a share of the lead after round one and fourth time in a major for the seven-time major champion.
“Very solid round,” Webb said. “I hit every fairway, missed just the last green on 9. And pretty patient. I had some looks on the back nine, which was my first nine, and didn’t get anything to go. Hit a nice iron shot into the second and that was about a two or three-footer. So it got me into red numbers, and I played a really great front nine or back nine to finish.”
While the lead’s old hat for Webb, it’s entirely new territory for Alex. She’s never held a share of the lead after any round in her three years as a professional, and in five major appearances, her best finish is a tie for 9th at the 2014 RICOH Women’s British Open. She has, however, made the cut in four of five major appearances, though, including both majors to start 2015. Her 4-under 68 ties her best round in a major championship and comes as her game rounds into form. She missed the cut in five consecutive tournaments from April to early June but posted a T53 at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and then a tie for 9th at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship Presented by P&G a week and half ago.
“A lot of things have fallen together,” Alex said. “I’ve been working on my swing, and I have my caddie, who is absolutely awesome, I love her, she helped me out so much. It’s little things here and there piecing it together, and it’s kind of showing right now, which is great.”
Amy Yang took the early clubhouse lead on Thursday on a day where she posted six birdies en route to a 3-under-par 67. Mi Hyang Lee (70), Morgan Pressel (70), In Gee Chun (70), Austin Ernst (70), Sydnee Michaels (70), Elizabeth Nagel (70), and Na Yeon Choi (70) all sit in a tie for fourth at 2-under.
Lydia Ko, who can become the youngest major champion in women’s golf history with a win, posted an up-and-down round of even par after bogeys on three of the last eight derailed what was a promising start with birdies on four of the first 10 holes. Defending champion Michelle Wie shot a 2-over-par 74 on Thursday.
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