By Phillip Howley

Edina, Minn. - OK, enough is enough.

We all know that the early portions of a golf competition can produce some surprising results. We all know the names on the leader board for a first round of a major championship can be like names on an Etch-A-Sketch. They tend to disappear when things start to shake out.

Now that the 2008 U.S. Women's Open is heading into the weekend, the gratuities should be over with

Helen Alfredsson tied for second in the 1993 U.S. Women's Open. (John Mummert/USGA)

and the preliminary niceties expended. It's time to get serious. But most of the names remaining atop the board at Interlachen Country Club are likely drawing blanks in your average household.

Right now there are no Ochoas, no Sorenstams, no Pettersens or Paks. There are no sentimental favorites like Hilary Lunke, no cagey veterans like Meg Mallon, no marketing plans like Michelle Wie.

The USGA has a reputation for having the toughest setups in golf and making par a good score. But heading toward the weekend, Interlachen is not favoring names or nationalities. It is not discriminating by age or market potential. It is ignoring reputations.

At Interlachen, it's Rod Tidwell simple: "show me the birdies." At this 63rd U.S. Women's Open, if you're not in the red, you're dead.

"I came out today, this morning, telling myself I could go low because the greens were a little softer," said Angela Park, a 19-year old Brazilian native, who did the limbo to the tune of 6-under-par 67 on Friday. She finished second last year.

When thunderstorms suspended play Friday afternoon at 4:20 CDT, Park had the 36-hole clubhouse lead at 6-under 140. When play resumed Helen Alfredsson caught Park at six under through 14 holes until she dropped a stroke on the 16th. hole. Park is only one of two Parks in the hunt. Her namesake – but no relation – Inbee Park, a 19-year old Korean who won the 2002 U.S. Girls' Junior, fired a second-round 69 to back up her opening 72. This Park stands just one stroke in arrears of the other Park.

The U.S. Women's Open is supposed to be a demanding place, pressure-packed and grueling. But this one is playing out in two-Park harmony, and Inbee couldn't be in better spirits.

"It's a very nice place to be," she said. "I'm glad there's a lot of people coming out to watch and it's a very good tournament. I love it."

OK, enough is enough.

This is not supposed to be this much fun. This is supposed to be the championship end all championships, Par's Last Stand. This is supposed to be an Armageddon, separating contenders from pretenders. But the way things are going, everyone seems to be Interlache-d in.

When the rains and thunderstorms arrived, the leader board still lacked rhyme or reason. Yes, reigning champ Cristie Kerr was around, so was Alfredsson. But those were the only two among the top 12 scorers with a major title in the profile.

A step farther, only six of those top 12 had as much as a regular LPGA Tour win to their credit. There were seven different native lands represented, four of them Korean, two Americans and one – Minea Blomqvist – from Finland.

"(Golf) is getting bigger (in Finland)," said Blomqvist, who had a 69 and is at 5-under 141. "So I hope I can get a little piece in the newspaper."

You try to make sense of it. If you are searching for patterns, hoping for themes, you might be better off staring at a Lava Lamp.

"This golf course is set up very well," said Annika Sorenstam, who bounced back from an opening 75 with a second-round 70. "And then yesterday a lot of people might say there were a lot of red numbers.

"Well, I think that will change by the end of Sunday."

By then, enough will be enough.

Phillip Howley is a freelance writer who has previously written for usga.org.