Dumbo Takes Flight At U.s. Women's Open As In Gee Chun Moves Up Leaderboard

Dumbo mightiness not sound for illustration nan astir flattering nickname, but In Gee Chun has embraced it.

Years ago, her coach successful South Korea gave her nan moniker because of her exceptionally keen hearing, nan expertise to perceive personification clearing their pharynx aliases opening a soda 2 holes away. She leaned into it ever since. The Disney characteristic adorns her play container and is her driver headcover, and her fans mention to themselves arsenic nan “Flying Dumbos.”

At nan U.S. Women’s Open connected Friday, everyone heard Chun’s footsteps. She changeable a three-under-par 68 to declare an early stock of nan lead astatine Riviera pinch Jennifer Kupcho and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno.

Many of nan contenders were still connected nan people astatine property time, but Chun assured herself of a premier position heading into nan weekend, successful nan hunt for her 4th awesome championship. She won nan Open successful 2015, Evian successful 2016, and Women’s PGA successful 2022.

Were Chun to triumph this tournament, she would beryllium successful rarefied aerial pinch bookend victories separated by 11 years. According to Elias Sports Bureau, among women pinch aggregate U.S. Open titles, Meg Mallon had nan longest spread (13 years apart), followed by Annika Sorenstam (10 years).

Of course, there’s a large quality betwixt being astatine a logjam atop nan leaderboard connected Friday and lifting nan Harton S. Semple Trophy connected Sunday.

“Just instrumentality to nan crippled plan, thing changes,” Chun said of her mindset heading into nan weekend. “I don’t want to deliberation astir nan early to put other unit connected me.”

Speaking of other pressure, Kupcho has an statement pinch her mom. They’ll talk earlier and aft nan tournament, but not during it.

“Me and my mom benignant of person an understanding,” she said, “like, ‘Just don’t matter me. I don’t want to perceive from you if I play good. I don’t want to perceive from you if I play bad. We’ll talk astatine nan extremity of nan tournament.’”

Jennifer Kupcho hits retired of a fairway bunker connected No. 9 during nan 2nd information of nan 81st U.S. Women’s Open astatine Riviera Country Club connected Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Kupcho, raised successful Colorado, said she hasn’t banned her folks from attending, “But I don’t deliberation they’re going to.”

Maybe she could person utilized immoderate TLC connected Friday. After starring outright Thursday pinch a 66, she came backmost to world pinch a 73.

That was still capable to support her squarely successful nan mix. The aforesaid could not beryllium said for Michelle Wie West, who followed a 75 pinch a 74 — a deflating decorativeness for nan LPGA fable who came retired of status to usage her last twelvemonth of exemption to play astatine Riviera.

“Obviously I would beryllium lying to opportunity I wasn’t disappointed. I would person loved to person made nan trim today, granted each day,” Wie West said. “But I had a blast honestly, pinch playing present astatine Riv, specified a typical week to person played it, and to person family, friends, a batch of acquainted faces coming out, it was a batch of fun.

“I deed immoderate bully shots, deed immoderate bully putts, and benignant of felt that emotion again, which is awesome.”

Nelly Korda, classed No. 1 successful nan world, was coming connected beardown Friday day successful nan aftermath of a ho-hum 73 successful nan opening round. She had 3 birdies and six pars connected nan beforehand 9 successful nan 2nd round.

Nelly Korda misses a birdie putt connected No.3 during nan 2nd information of nan U.S. Women’s Open connected Friday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

Likewise gathering momentum was Alison Lee who changeable a 70 connected Thursday, and Friday had 4 birdies done her first 12 holes. She grew up successful Valencia and played astatine UCLA.

Lee had a son, Levi Todd Kidd, successful April of past twelvemonth and was backmost connected nan LPGA Tour wrong 4 months. She made her 2026 debut astatine nan LET Saudi Ladies International successful February and opened pinch a two-under 70 contempt playing pinch rental clubs, arsenic her regular group was stuck successful Amsterdam.

Balancing a awesome title and motherhood is nary elemental challenge.

“It’s been really reliable trying to juggle everything,” she told reporters earlier nan Open. “I consciousness for illustration sometimes I’m drowning nether water, but thankfully I person immoderate awesome group and awesome thief astir maine wherever I tin get done it.”

She’s staying pinch her parents successful Valencia truthful she won’t disrupt her son’s schedule, and has a backup room astatine Megan Khang’s adjacent rental location for early tee times.

Recently, her babe had nan benignant of breakthrough each genitor tin appreciate.

“He’s sleeping a batch better,” she said. “Therefore, my life has been a batch easier. ... I’ve been capable to get a small much rest. I’ve been capable to activity retired a small spot much and believe a small spot more.”