World No 2 Cristie Kerr and American amateur Amy Anderson shared the lead at two-under par when play was halted on Thursday in the first round of the storm-hit US Women’s Open. Thunderstorms around the Broadmoor course halted play for the day with only 25 women having completed their opening round over the par-71 layout and 72 players having yet to tee off, including World No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan.
America’s Kerr began on the back nine. She birdied the par-3 12th but slipped back with a bogey at the par-4 15th. Back-to-back birdies at the par-4 fifth and sixth put her on top before she was stopped on the seventh hole. Kerr, who has three runner-up finishes this season but is still looking for her first triumph of the year, found the right rough and a greenside bunker before play was stopped.
“At least I’ll get to practice some long bunker shots before we go out, so maybe it’s a good thing,” Kerr said. Anderson birdied the fifth and par-3 ninth and had six holes remaining when play was stopped. “First-day leader — that’s way more than I could have imagined,” Anderson said. Tseng, trying to complete a career Grand Slam at age 22, and American Paula Creamer, the defending champion, will be among those hoping to start their first round Friday morning. Australia’s Sarah-Jane Smith teed off just before the horn sounded to stop play.
“I’ve never hit one, then walked straight back in,” she said. “I’m looking forward to it.” South Korean Inbee Park, Italy’s Silvia Cavalleri and Japan’s Ai Miyazato were on one-under par when players were ordered off the course. Park had one hole to play while Cavalleri had finished only one hole. Miyazato had three holes to complete. The clubhouse leader was American Kristy McPherson on two-over 73.
