Park leads at U.S. Women’s Open

Halfway across the country, this U.S. Women’s Open must look familiar to Angela Park. She was in the lead after 36 holes of a tournament again delayed by storms, and Cristie Kerr was moving quickly up the leaderboard in Edina, Minn.

Park found a smooth putting stroke to go with her pretty swing Friday at Interlachen, posting a 6-under 67 well before the lightning and rain forced a 2 1/2 -hour delay.

Just like last year at Pine Needles, the lead held up.

Helen Alfredsson bogeyed the 16th hole as the sun dipped behind the trees, settling for a 71 that left her one shot behind, along with Minea Blomqvist of Finland and In-Bee Park.

The threat might be Kerr, the defending champion, looking confident as ever on a course that feels like home. She was within one shot of the lead and twice threatened with birdies until a fly distracted her on the ninth tee and she hit into the woods, leading to bogey.

Even so, she shot a 3-under 70 and was just two shots behind.

“I’m in position again, and I have that fire. I’ve got it,” Kerr said.

PGA Tour

Bo Van Pelt shot a 6-under 66 at the Buick Open at Grand Blanc, Mich., making him a career-best 14-under 130 through 36 holes and the second-round leader by two shots.

He missed out on his best chance to win for the first time in seven PGA Tour seasons at the Puerto Rico Open, where he led for three-plus rounds before losing by a stroke to first-time winner Greg Kraft.

“The more I put myself in that position, one of these Sundays is going to be my day,” he said.

Daniel Chopra (67) and Dudley Hart (68) head into the weekend at 12 under, two shots behind Van Pelt.

Champions Tour

Loren Roberts made a 45-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap a 6-under 65 that gave him a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Commerce Bank Championship in East Meadow, N.Y.

Gene Jones and Greg Hickman had 66s to share second place in the $1.6 million tournament.