Kaori Yamamoto fired a second straight 4-under 67 on Friday to lead the 2024 U.S. Senior Women’s Open but two of the winningest golfers in LPGA history are in striking distance.
Juli Inkster posted a 3-under 68 in the second round at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh and is 2 under for the tournament, six back of Yamamoto. Right there with Inkster at 2 under is Annika Sorenstam, the 2021 USSWO champ.
Sorenstam leads the LPGA all-time with 72 wins. Inkster is tied for sixth with 31.
“I’m a bit afraid of Annika Sorenstam and Juli Inkster,” Yamamoto said, adding, “but I’m actually excited to escape from them.”
Yamamoto, 50, earned her spot in this year’s field after winning a qualifier by six shots. Her back-to-back 67s gives her the 36-hole tournament record.
A year ago, she was at the USSWO but as a caddie for her best friend, Eika Otake. Now she’s leading it.
“So far I can’t believe my position,” she said Friday. “But yeah, I’m doing well. I’m proud of my golf today.”
Kaori Yamamoto discusses strategy with her caddie on the 15th hole during the second round of the 2024 U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Fox Chapel Golf Club in Pittsburgh. (Jeff Haynes/USGA)
Yamamoto is playing in a tournament in the U.S. for the first time.
Lisa Grimes got to 5 under, good for solo second, before play was halted for darkness at 8:22 p.m. ET. Stefania Croce is solo third overnight at 4 under and Mikino Kubo is solo fourth at 4 under.
Sorenstam and Inkster are tied for fifth with Christa Johnson. Catrin Nilsmark is ninth at 1 under. No other golfers are under par through two days.
JoAnne Carner, 85, shot her age Thursday and then posted an 80 in Friday’s round. She has now shot her age or better eight times in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, and has done it in six of her last seven rounds in the championship. But, Carner’s two-day total of of 23 over left her 15 shots off the overnight projected cutline of 8 over.