Teenager Park leads as storms halt U.S. Women's Open

By Elspeth Burnside

SOUTHERN PINES, North Carolina (Reuters) - Brazilian teenager Angela Park led on three-under-par 68 when storms stopped play at the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday.

The 18-year-old rookie led by two shots from South Korean trio Ahn Shi Hyun, Shin Jiyai and Kim Joo Mi, Taiwan's Amy Hung, Paraguay's Julieta Granada and American Charlotte Mayorkas.

Michelle Wie continued to struggle on her return from a broken wrist, carding an 82. But the 17-year-old American was still one better than Australia's Karrie Webb, who won when the event was last played at Pine Needles in 2001.

"I really feel frustrated because the score did not display how I scored at all," Wie told reporters. "I was just a little shaky from the tee.

"My wrist didn't bother me but I guess it's just I've not played for a long time," said Wie, who is competing in only her third tournament in five months. "It's a very fine line between shooting 69 and what I had today."

Mexico's world number one Lorena Ochoa, who holed a 195-yard bunker shot in her round, was alongside Americans Cristie Kerr and Morgan Pressel on 71.

Park, the top rookie on the LPGA Tour this year, birdied the first three holes and added another at the eighth before dropping her only shot at the 17th.