While her four-over-par 74 in the second round of the US Women’s Open Championship on Friday might have been frustrating for Casandra Alexander, she will be heartened by the fact that she is heading into the weekend at Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.
At five-over-par through 36 holes, she was in a share of 29th, nine strokes off the lead. And with low scores hard to come by on the major championship set-up, she will feel that she get closer to the leader, Wichanee Meechai of Thailand, who carded a three-under-par 67 to move to four-under for the championship.
Meechai was two strokes clear of American Andrea Lee, with Australian Minjee Lee and Yuka Saso of Japan, both former champions, in a share of third on one-under-par. Those four players were the only players at par or better, as the cut fell at eight-over and world number one Nelly Korda missed it.
Alexander started her round on the 10th with three consecutive bogeys. She birdied the 13th and dropped another shot on the 14th before stringing together eight consecutive pars. She dropped another shot on the fifth before coming home with for more consecutive pars.
The only other South African in the field was Ashleigh Buhai. She made the cut on a total of seven-over for the championship after a second-round three-over-par 73.
Other notables to miss the cut included two-time LPGA Tour winner Rose Zhang and defending champion Allisen Corpuz, as well as major champions Brooke Henderson and Patty Tavatanakit. Eighteen-time US Women’s Open participant, Lexi Thompson, will also miss playing the final 36 holes in Pennsylvania.
