Japan's Hinako Shibuno, victorious in the 2019 British Open, took the lead in the women's US Open three strokes ahead. Only two out of five French women continue the adventure this weekend. The amateur Pauline Roussin-Bouchard 20th and Perrine Delacour 29th.

US Women's Open: Shibuno in the lead, Roussin-Bouchard and Delacour cross the cut

US Women's Open: Shibuno in the lead - photo credit -Tristan Jones - LET

Only 22 years old, Hinako Shibuno, nicknamed Smiling Cinderella at home, is seven strokes under par, after 36 holes on the Champions Golf Club course in Houston, Texas.

Shibuno made six birdies and only did two bogeys on the Jackrabbit course, one of the two used for the first two laps, but she said she did not feel "at all confident" and that his way of playing "didn't look like him."

The first chaser is a Swedish amateur player, Linn Grant, 21 years old. She had two laps in a row in 69 and found herself alone second ahead of Americans Amy Olson, Megan Khang and Kaitlyn Papp.

The weather conditions in December (rain and wind) did not help some players, also destabilized by the fact that this Major, initially scheduled for June, was being played behind closed doors. " It's funny not hearing a thing when we birdie“, Explained Shibuno, four times victorious last year on the Japanese LPGA Tour.

Even winning a major championship last year was not enough for the Japanese to become a member of the LPGA Tour. She felt too young, too inexperienced, and needed more Japanese LPGA work.

The plan was to wait until the end of the year and go through the LPGA version of qualifying school. This has been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The only way now is to win the Open.

When asked if she would be joining the LPGA this time around, Shibuno smiled - of course - and replied, " Yes of course."

The Japanese had to face instant fame in Japan, where women's golf often obtains higher TV audiences than men.

«I went from anonymity to stardom overnight, and I don't know how to explain it, but I feel like I'm a good person, ”she said via a translator. “In Japan, even though I was wearing a mask, people recognize me. Of course, that's the goal of being a professional golf player. But it's more difficult for me to go to dinner than before. »

Korean Kim Sei-young, world number 2, is currently only tied for 14th after playing Friday in 69 at Cypress Creek. As for her compatriot Ko Jin-young, world number 1, she is only 29th after a 70 Friday on the Jackrabbit greens.

The American Cristie Kerr, winner of this Major in 2007, played 69 on the other course, that of Cypress Creek where the tournament will end. She is tied for 6th place when she recently injured her ribs in a car accident ... golf.

Céline Boutier fifth last year at +4 (146), suddenly misses the cut set at +3, it does not work either for the other two amateur players Agathe Laisné (81st at +5) and Lucie Malchirand, 17 years old, 120th to +9. The next two rounds will take place on Cypress Creek at the Champions Golf Course.

Provisional general classification of the US Open women after the 2nd round played on Friday on two courses at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas (par 71):

1. Hinako Shibuno (JPN) -7 (68-67)

2. Linn Grant (SWE) -4 (69-69)

3. Kaitlyn Papp (USA) -3 (71-68)

. Megan Khang (USA) -3 (70-69)

. Amy Olson (USA) -3 (67-72)

6. Lindsey Weaver (USA) -2 (70-70)

. Sarah Schmelzel (USA) -2 (71-69)

. Ashleigh Buhai (RSA) -2 (71-69)

. Cristie Kerr (USA) -2 (71-69)

. Stacy Lewis (USA) -2 (72-68)

. Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) -2 (70-70)

. Moriya Jutanugarn (THA) -2 (68-72)

. Yuka Saso (PHI) -2 (69-71)

14. Azahara Munoz (ESP) -1 (71-70)

. Yealimi Noh (USA) -1 (72-69)

. Lizette Salas (USA) -1 (72-69)

. Lydia Ko (NZL) -1 (71-70)

. Kim Sei-young (KOR)-1 (72-69)

. Ingrid Lindblad (SWE)-1 (72-69)

20. Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (FRA) 0 (70-72)

...

29. Ko Jin-young (KOR) +1 (73-70)

See the full ranking