Hurst, Pak, Park, Share Early Lead

By Ken Klavon, USGA

Newport, R.I. – Shortly before her 4:30 a.m. wake-up call, Jane Park heard thunder rumbling outside her window. The way this week has gone at Newport Country Club, more rain has been the cliché and overshadowed the actual national championship.

"I thought the course was going to be pretty much unplayable," said Park, who grabbed an early share of the lead after her first round at the Women’s Open on Friday.

Jane Park had a satisfying round in her words. She took 28 putts overall to share the early lead. (Steve Gibbons/USGA)

Park, the soon-to-be sophomore at UCLA and 2004 U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, registered a 2-under 69 that was soon equaled by Se Ri Pak and Pat Hurst. Five players, one of them being Michelle Wie, carded 1-under 70s. Wie walked away with an otherwise solid round with 15 pars, at one time moving within a shot of the lead. She confirmed one of her two birdies on the 18^th green, about 12 feet long, using her own read.

"I think making birdie on the last hole will make my lunch taste a lot better," said Wie.

In the second group to tee off on No. 10, Wales native Becky Morgan bolted to a 2-under lead after making the turn. She walked to the scorer’s area with a 1-under 70.

"It was obviously very wet in some places," said Morgan, her highlight a 20-foot uphill putt for birdie on No. 12. She had to take relief on the first hole because "there was a river running behind it."

Defending champion Birdie Kim was among several other USGA past winners – Morgan Pressel, Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb -- to have afternoon tee times.

The first round had been delayed until Friday because of quirky weather in the area. Lingering fog destroyed any hope of playing Thursday. Now the championship will come down to 36 holes on Sunday.

Still, it was refreshing to be able to get going even though conditions continued to stress officials in getting the course prepared. With most of the course soggy and the forecast calling for the winds to increase this afternoon, the USGA decided to move six tee markers forward, affecting length. The course is playing at 6,497 yards, or 67 yards shorter than originally scheduled.

The difficulties of a saturated course were evident. Pockets of fairways had puddles and muddy areas. Some bunkers were pooled. Countless players took relief from casual water. Park said she ran into two instances of plugged balls, both on the low-lying par-4 ninth hole, and took relief from casual water "four or five times."

For her, though, the whole goal was to have fun since her last professional event had been last year’s Women’s Open at Cherry Hills, where she missed the cut. At 19 she’s competing in her fourth Open. She’s bidding to become the second amateur, behind Catherine Lacoste in 1967, to ever win the event.

The key to her steady round lay in missing just one of 14 fairways on No. 8, which led to her only bogey. Park birdied the 298-yard, par-4 second by draining a 20-footer and then followed suit on No. 7, another par 4, by guiding in a 15-footer. She could have gone lower but left a downhill 10-footer, which she called "scary," on the 18th a couple inches short.

"I think it’s [the course] very playable, first of all," said Park, named to this year’s USA Curtis Cup squad. "I think, yeah, there’s going to be someone lower than a 69. I wouldn’t be surprised."

Se Ri Pak had reason to smile Friday after playing the par-4 holes to the tune of 2 under. (John Mummert/USGA)

The decision to move up tee markers added another element to an already-tough USGA setup.

"You always learn something playing in a USGA event," she said. "The golf courses they choose are always high caliber."

For Pak, who started on the back nine, her 2 under was carved out of desire and guile. It could be argued those traits weren’t there the last two years for the 1998 Women’s Open champion and winner of this year’s LPGA McDonald’s Championship. A painful neck injury shut her game down for parts of last year and her passion for the game had deteriorated. In last year’s Women’s Open she remained within striking distance, tied for ninth through 36 holes before an 81 in the third round caused her to slip to 45^th overall.

"I’m always back," said Pak after her round when someone referenced her long absence from leader boards. "I’ll always be here if anyone forgets about me. Actually, I feel great to be back. At the same time, my game is back, too.

"I think [it was] too much pressure to be on top, to be the best."

Pak wobbled between even par and 1 under, the red finally winning out when she birdied two of her final four holes. She sank a long putt from the fringe on No. 6 that got her to 1 under. The struggles, though, were all the long 3- and 4-irons into the greens, she said.

"I got a perfect read," said Pak of her putt on 16. "That was another bonus hole, which just helps me out."

Assisting herself on No. 9, her 18^th hole, was Hurst. After getting as low as 3 under with two holes to play, the two-time USGA champion slid in a 15-footer on the elevated ninth green to save par.

"Definitely, it’s one of my goals, one of my dreams to win a major," she said. "When you’re out here, you just can’t put too much pressure on yourself. Oh, my gosh, it’s my biggest dream to win this tournament."

Ken Klavon is the USGA Web Editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usg.org.