By Rahul Banerji
She hit only nine fairways and 10 greens in regulation but Megha Ganne was still good enough to card a 71 and share third place on day two of the 76th US Women’s Open in San Francisco on Friday.
The 17-year-old from New Jersey sits two shots behind leader Yuka Saso of the Philippines on 4-under 138 (67-71) and says she is loving every minute of the pressure situation.
“I wish every event I had a gallery watching me because it just makes me play better, I think,” said Ganne on Friday.
“And I love being in the spotlight, so it’s been really fun.”
Ganne has clearly taken to the big stage, making key recoveries and dropping vital putts. On 18, she saved par with a downhill to cap a level-par round for the day.
Calmer approach
“I was way more calm (on the first tee today) than yesterday,” Ganne said after holing that 9-footer for par.
On a day a number of big names including defending champion A Lim Kim missed the cut that came at 6-over 148, Megha was calmness personified.
“The first four holes of yesterday I was like kind of jittery and a little bit panicked. But on the tee box today, I had a bit of a cushion so I wasn’t as stressed out.”
“I think what I learned at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and a couple other events is when you have your ‘A’ game it’s really easy to make putts and hit good shots.
“But it’s when you don’t have that and you’re still able to salvage (a score) and not compound mistakes, that’s what separates the pros from the amateurs.
“That’s what I’ve been trying to do. And I saw that today a little bit on the front nine.
“I wasn’t really in the spots I wanted to be, so I just remembered that I know how to make up-and-downs. I kept that in mind.”
On target
At the top, Saso followed her first-round 69 with a 4-under 67 at The Olympic Club that had six birdies and two bogeys, finding only six fairways.
On the greens though, she has been on target and has needed just 53 putts over the first two days.
Saso is one shot ahead of 2019 US Women’s Open winner Jeongeun Lee who rode a late charge into second place on 5-under 136. Ganne and Megan Khang are tied for third.
Inbee Park set the championship record for the most sub-par rounds with 25 after her second day 69. She is 2-under overall and T6 along with fellow Major champions Lexi Thompson and Ariya Jutanguarn.
China’s Shanshan Feng is fifth on 3-under 139.
Missing the cut were Inbee Park, Paula Creamer (9-over), Brittany Lang (9-over) and Michelle Wie West (12-over), besides AIG Women’s Open winners Hinako Shibuno (7-over) and Sophia Popov (8-over).
Also read: Mumbai girl Ivana Shah awarded prestigious LPGA trophy
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