SAN FRANCISCO: Free-swinging Park Sung-Hyun fired seven birdies in a six-under par 66 on Friday to grab a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the US Women's Open at CordeValle in San Martin, California.
Park, playing in her first US Open, took advantage of benign morning conditions and vaulted to the top of the leaderboard on eight-under 136, two strokes in front of compatriots Amy Yang and Lee Mi-Rim with world number one Lydia Ko lurking just a further stroke back.
"I didn't even think about winning because this is the first time for me," said the 22-year-old Park, a five-time winner on the Korean LPGA Tour who has played three LPGA Tour events this year.
"I would like more experience with the USGA, LPGA. But I'm trying to enjoy this tournament. That's why I am just more comfortable, don't even think about the winning, I just enjoy the play. That's why it happened today."
Park's seven birdies included four in six holes on the back nine. Her lone bogey came at the 17th, where she was unable to get up and down from a greenside bunker.
She was also in trouble at 18, finding a hazard off the tee but rolling in a 15-footer to save par and walk off the green tied with overnight leader Lee -- whose second-round 74 was 10 strokes higher than her record-equalling opening round of eight-under.
Lee's difficult day included a double-bogey six at the par-four 10th, but she stayed in touch alongside Yang, who carded a 71.
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