South Korea’s An Na-rin fired a six-under-par 65 to grab a two-stroke lead when darkness halted Friday’s rain-hit second round of the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open.
The 26-year-old rookie, whose best season finish was third at Carlsbad in March, shook off a storm delay and hasn’t made a bogey over the first 36 holes at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club to stand on 13 under 129.
“I don’t have experience winning in the US,” An said. “But I do have some experience in Korea, so it’s not an unfamiliar feeling.
“It has been a while since I’ve played as a leader, so I think it’ll be fun and I hope to put up another good round.”
South Korean Choi Hye-jin, who eagled twice in shooting a 63, and South African Paula Reto, the 18-hole leader who fired a 69, shared second on 131 with American Nelly Korda, who birdied three of the last four holes to shoot 64.
American Lizette Salas was fifth on 132 with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Americans Sarah Schmelzel and Danielle Kang on 133.
Play was halted with 36 players yet to finish their second rounds. They will return to the course on Saturday morning.
Leading those who have yet to complete 36 holes was American Linday Duncan, on nine under with four holes remaining. Americans Emma Talley, Mo Martin and Elizabeth Szokol were on seven under.
An birdied the 2nd and 4th holes then took advantage of par-five holes for birdies at the 6th, 9th and 10th and added another at the par-three 15th.
“I knew I had to hit the fairways well,” An said. “The birdie chances came from a lot of good iron shots and my putting was able to support those iron shots and thus put up good results.
“I thought rain would continue to come and I’m glad it didn’t, but I definitely had to focus more in the event that it would rain again.”
Choi struck for eagles at the 6th and 9th with birdies at the par-three 8th, the 10th and the 16th and par-three 17th to climb the leaderboard.
“Lot of mid- to long-range putts were dropping and that helped reduce my score,” Choi said. “Both the eagles came from par fives with the tee boxes moved up. The tee shot was hit well and the putting was great, so all parts of the game were working there.”
Reto opened with a birdie, added two more at the par-three 5th and par-five 6th but took a bogey at the 9th before parring the entire back nine.
Reto, who fired a course-record 62 on Thursday, won her first professional title in February at a Sunshine Tour event in her homeland.
“My speed on the greens was a little bit off,” Reto said. “I was ramming the putts by so my lines and speed didn’t match, so just didn’t make any putts.”
© Agence France-Presse
