Alison Lee is trying to balance a major championship and motherhood.
So far, so good.
The former UCLA standout shot a 68 at Riviera Country Club on Friday to inch to the top of the leaderboard in the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open, putting the devoted mom in prime position for a weekend run at her first major victory.
Lee grew up in Valencia, and that’s where she’s staying this week so her parents can watch their 13-month-old grandson, Levi Todd Kidd, who late Friday afternoon was perched on his mother’s lap in the scoring tent.
“I will say over the last few months it’s been tough,” Lee conceded earlier this week. “But we had a breakthrough last week and he’s sleeping a lot better. Therefore, my life has been a lot easier.”
Lee, who shot 70 on Thursday, likewise could be on the verge of a career breakthrough. She has yet to win on the LPGA Tour.
“To win in basically my backyard would be super cool,” she said.
She isn’t the only local player with momentum heading into the weekend. Fellow Bruin Patty Tavatanakit is three shots off the lead, as is Allisen Corpuz, who played at USC.
Ruoning Yin hits out of a green side bunker on No. 17 during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday. Yin is tied with Lee for the lead at four-under through 138 holes.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
On an afternoon that was cooler and grayer than Thursday, the woman ranked No. 1 in the world got back on track. After shooting a 73 in the opening round, Nelly Korda relocated her rhythm with four birdies on her way to a 67, earning some cheers from a gallery that, though relatively modest, was the biggest of the day.
Lee was among a small group of players who shot a 68. That included “Dumbo” — South Korea’s In Gee Chun — who got that nickname years ago because of her exceptionally keen hearing. She has embraced the moniker. The Disney character adorns her golf bag and is her driver headcover, and her fans refer to themselves as the “Flying Dumbos.”
Chun is in the hunt for her fourth major championship, having won the Open in 2015, Evian in 2016, and Women’s PGA in 2022.
Were Chun to win this tournament, she would be in rarefied air with bookend victories separated by 11 years. According to Elias Sports Bureau, among women with multiple U.S. Open titles, Meg Mallon had the longest gap (13 years apart), followed by Annika Sorenstam (10 years).
Of course, there’s a big difference between being at a logjam atop the leaderboard on Friday and lifting the Harton S. Semple Trophy on Sunday.
“Just stick to the game plan, nothing changes,” Chun said of her mindset heading into the weekend. “I don’t want to think about the future to put extra pressure on me.”
In Gee Chun reacts her par putt on the eighth hole during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Jennifer Kupcho, who led the field with a 66 on Thursday, has her own way of dealing with external pressure. She talks to her mom before and after a tournament — but not during it.
“Me and my mom kind of have an understanding,” she said, “like, ‘Just don’t text me. I don’t want to hear from you if I play good. I don’t want to hear from you if I play bad. We’ll talk at the end of the tournament.’”
Kupcho, raised in Colorado, said she hasn’t banned her folks from attending, “But I don’t think they’re going to.”
Maybe she could have used a sympathetic ear Friday. After leading outright Thursday, she came back to earth Friday with a 73 but was still only a shot off the leader.
Jennifer Kupcho hits out of a fairway bunker on No. 9 during the second round of the 81st U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
The same could not be said for Michelle Wie West, who followed a 75 with a 74 — a deflating finish for the LPGA legend who came out of retirement to use her final year of exemption to play at Riviera.
“Obviously I would be lying to say I wasn’t disappointed. I would have loved to have made the cut today, granted all day,” Wie West said. “But I had a blast honestly, with playing here at Riv, such a special week to have played it, and to have family, friends, a lot of familiar faces coming out, it was a lot of fun.
“I hit some good shots, hit some good putts, and kind of felt that feeling again, which is awesome.”
Nelly Korda misses a birdie putt on No.3 during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Friday.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
