DALY CITY: Stacy Lewis noted that she was 29 and playing partner Lydia Ko was 17 when talking about their contrasting approaches to a storm delay on Friday in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.
“I think you try to stay patient during the delay more than anything, and try to stay loose,” Lewis said. “I didn’t sit down too much. Tried to stay up.”
Ko did the opposite.
“I sat down, had some chicken soup, played some cards,” Ko said. “I was totally relaxed.”
But she was careful to avoid hot chocolate. “I had a cup of hot chocolate before during a delay and next hole I hit it out of bounds,” Ko said. “My mom brought me a cup and I was like, ‘Oh, that better not be hot chocolate.”’
Lewis overcame rain and hail to take the second-round lead, shooting her second straight three-under 69 at Lake Merced. Winless since the Women’s British Open in August, the third-ranked Lewis had a one-stroke lead over Ko and first-round leader Karine Icher.
Ko had a 71, and Icher followed her opening 66 with a 73.
Lewis and Ko played alongside Michelle Wie, dealing with heavy rain and hail that suspended play for just over an hour. Play resumed in steady drizzle that gave way to sunny afternoon conditions that helped several of the late starters.
Wie was even par after her second 72.
The weather wavered between a slight mist and light shower before pounding the course just after noon, forcing the suspension at 12.36 pm.
Ko, who turned 17 on Thursday and was named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people, thought she could get her putt in before being called off.
“I was crazy and out of my mind thinking about putting in the hail,” Ko said. “It started getting dark and I’m glad I was called off.”
Ko returned to the course and made the putt.
Icher was tied for the lead with Lewis at five under when the horn sounded.
“I ate a little and dried my clothes,” Icher said. “Rain delays are never fun but it happens. Being in the top five to start the tournament is pretty good, definitely my best start this year.”
Top-ranked Inbee Park, Mika Miyazato and Ilhee Lee were three strokes back at 3 under. Park had a 68 in the afternoon, Miyazato shot 69, and Lee had a 73.
“It was a very good putting day and I hit a lot of fairways,” Park said. “I got a little lucky with the weather. I only had to play in the rain for four holes.”
Miyazato finished before the delay.
“The golf course was more challenging,” Miyazato said. “I needed better course management.”
Second-ranked Suzann Pettersen, returning from a since back injury that sidelined her for three tournaments, was 2 under after a 72.
AP
