Aditi Ashok. File Pic
Jersey City, NJ, June 3: Aditi Ashok carded an even par 72 on a weather-hit second round to stay in the Top-5 after two rounds at the Mizuho Americas Open on the LPGA. Aditi (67-72) is at 5-under 139
The young Indian star, who has been having a good season on either side of the Atlantic and even made a brief move into Top-50 of the world rankings, had two birdies against two bogeys, the second of which came on the 17th when play resumed after a suspension due to dangerous weather at the Liberty National.
Aditi, who was runner-up after losing a play-off at the JM Eagle Championships in Los Angeles, trails the leader, Minjee Lee, who matched the tournament best with an 8-under 64. Minjee (73-64) shares the 36-hole lead with Cheyenne Knight (69-68) at 7-under 137 in an event that features five top-10 players and promising newcomer Rose Zhang.
Aditi’s round was interrupted by dangerous weather for an hour and 47 minutes. She later finished her remaining three holes with a bogey on 17th just before darkness ended the day.
Aditi bogeyed fifth but got back that shot with a birdie on seventh. A second birdie came on the Par-3 11th, but she gave that shot back in 17th.
Minjee, the fifth-ranked Lee, from Australia, birdied eight of the first 12 holes in a bogey-free round as she made amends for a first round 73 and moved from 55th to the top spot. Lee is an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour.
Lydia Ko was a shot back after a 69 in third place, while Aditi, Jin Young Ko (73-66), No. 6 Atthaya Thitikul (68-71), No. 8 Brooke Henderson (69-70) and Rose Zhang (70-69) are tied fourth. Zhang, the two-time NCAA individual champion, who turned pro last week, received a sponsor’s exemption to play.
Jin Young Ko, Zhang and Aditi had three holes or less left when play was suspended at 6 p.m. Ko had a birdie and bogey after play resumed. Zhang finished with three pars in her 69, a shot better than her first round, and Aditi had a bogey in her final three holes.
Cheyenne Knight, who has had three top 10 finishes this year, played her final 11 holes in 4 under.
First-round leader Lauren Hartlage was in a group at 3-under after a 76, which was 11 shots more than the first round.
