Yang has lead by 3 on Lewis

LANCASTER, Pa. -- Amy Yang rolled in four consecutive birdies in a round of 4-under 66 Friday for a three-stroke lead after two rounds of the U.S. Women's Open.

The bulk of the field had difficulty solving the sloping greens at Lancaster Country Club, but Yang, a 25-year-old South Korean, charged into the lead with birdies on the 11th, 12th, 13th. She hit her approach to within a foot on No. 14 and punctuated the run. Yang was at 7-under 133.

"I just enjoy it out here," Yang said. "And I know the golf courses are very tough; I just enjoy the tough condition of the golf courses."

Stacy Lewis, last year's runner-up, and Japan's Shiho Oyama were tied for second at 4-under 136. Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) birdied four of eight holes in the middle of her round, but bogeyed her last and settled for a 3-under 67.

Oyama had an opening 70 and was 2 over early in her second round before making six birdies in a 12-hole stretch, including four on her second nine, on the way to a 4-under 66.

Yang has two victories since joining the LPGA Tour in 2006, and some of her finest golf has been played in the U.S. Open, where she has finished in the top 10 four times in the past five years.

She tied for fifth in 2010 U.S. Open, shared 10th place the following year and placed second in 2012. Last year at Pinehurst No. 2, she was third after 36 holes and first after 54 before closing with a 74 and finishing fourth.

She was paired with eventual winner Michelle Wie in the final round at Pinehurst and said she believes that experience can only help over the final two rounds.

Lewis' patience was tested early in the first round as she struggled with four bogeys and two birdies before breaking out of her funk. That carried over into the second round and she went on a tear that propelled her to near the top of the leaderboard -- again -- in the biggest event in women's golf.

"I just started playing golf, is really what it was," Lewis said. "I was thinking a lot those first 10, 11 holes, thinking a lot about my golf swing and just not playing. So I got to just playing golf ... and it's what you're seeing in the scores."

Marina Alex, part of a three-way tie for the lead after one round, carded a 1-over 71 and was next at 3-under 137.

Karrie Webb, also first round co-leader, had a 20-over 72 and was in a large group at 2-under 138. That group includes top-ranked and two-time champion Inbee Park (70), first-round co-leader Jane Park (72) and Morgan Pressel (70).

Inbee Park and Jane Park were two of the 55 players forced to finish their first rounds early Friday after play was suspended late Thursday when a powerful storm pounded Lancaster Country Club.

PGA

Thomas ahead by 1

SILVIS, Ill. -- Justin Thomas shot a 4-under 67 on Friday to take a 1-shot lead through two rounds at the John Deere Classic.

Thomas, a 22-year-old seeking his first career victory, is at 12-under 130 total. Johnson Wagner and Tom Gillis are a shot back.

Jordan Spieth shot a 7-under 64 on Friday to go from at risk of missing the cut to moving within five shots of the lead.

Spieth, who will try for his third consecutive major title next week at the British Open, opened the tournament Thursday with an even-par 71. But he rallied with four birdies in six holes and an eagle Friday.

Bryce Molder (Conway) had six birdies for a 6-under 65 and a two-round total of 9-under 133, which placed him in a tie for 7th.

Glen Day (Little Rock) had three birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under 70 and a two-round total of 5-under 137. Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) had an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys for a 4-under 67 and a two-round total of 138, making the cut on the number Friday.

EUROPEAN PGA

Unknown rises to top

GULLANE, Scotland -- Some of the top names in golf were upstaged by a player ranked No. 528 in the world at the Scottish Open on Friday, with unheralded Englishman Daniel Brooks surging into a three-shot lead after the second round.

Brooks rolled in a 30-foot putt for birdie on the last hole for a 5-under 65, which followed up a first-round 64 -- the lowest 18-hole score of his eight-year professional career -- at the links tune-up for next week's British Open at St. Andrews.

Defending champion Justin Rose, 2008 winner Graeme McDowell and Shane Lowry all shot 66 and were in a six-way share of second place on 8 under, a group that also included American Ryan Palmer (65).

Phil Mickelson birdied Nos. 14-16 to recover for a 68 that lifted him to 3-under overall and above the cut mark of 2 under -- despite what the five-time major champion called a "horrific" putting display on the Gullane greens.

Two players who did miss the cut: First-round leader Thorbjorn Olesen, who shot 7-over 77 for level par; and Ian Poulter (71 for 1 over).

WEB.COM

Piller retains lead

Martin Piller backed up his opening-round 61 with an 8-under 63 on Friday for a two-round total of 18-under 124 at the Boise Open.

Tied for second were Jorge Fernandez Valdez and Peter Malnati at 14-under 128. Valdes had an 8-under 63 and Malnati had a 9-under 62.

Ben Kohles and Erik Barnes were tied for fourth at 13 under.

Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) and Rick Cochran III shared sixth place at 12-under 130. Ridings had six birdies for a 6-under 65 on Friday.

Zach Fischer (Little Rock) was tied for eighth at 11 under. Andrew Landry (Razorbacks) and Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) did not make the cut.

CHAMPIONS

Four tied at top

Lee Janzen, Brad Bryant, Fred Funk and David Frost share the lead after the first round Friday at the Encompass Championship at Glenview, Ill.

Each shot a 7-under 65 at North Shore Country Club.

Tied for fifth place were Rod Spittle, Jerry Smith, Craig Stadler and Mike Goodes at 6 under.

Rocco Mediate, Esteban Toledo, Woody Austin, Jeff Sluman and Frank Esposito were tied for ninth at 5 under.

Sports on 07/11/2015