Davies and Wie make early exits at U.S. Women's Open

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - Former champion Laura Davies of Britain and American teenager Michelle Wie were among the cut casualties when the weather-delayed second round of the U.S. Women's Open was completed on Saturday.

Davies, who clinched her first LPGA victory at the 1987 U.S. Women's Open in an 18-hole playoff, missed out by one after carding an eight-over-par 81 at Interlachen Country Club.

The 44-year-old Englishwoman had been in title contention after opening with a 70 but a triple-bogey seven at the par-four 15th highlighted her struggles in the second round.

Wie, once one of the most trumpeted players in the game, effectively put paid to her own bid with a first-round 81 that featured an ugly nine at the tricky par-four ninth.

The 18-year-old Hawaiian had one hole remaining when play resumed under overcast skies on Saturday morning and she parred the nemesis ninth for a 75 to miss the cut by six strokes.

Although she had covered her first 12 holes in one under, Wie had too much ground to make up and bogeyed the fourth, fifth and eighth on her way to a 10-over total of 156.

The cut fell at four over with 74 players advancing to the third round.

Best of the late finishers on Saturday morning were Japan's Ai Miyazato and South Korean teenager Oh Ji-young who both parred the final hole to lie three strokes off the pace.

Miyazato returned a 72 and Oh, joint leader after the opening round, a 76.

Brazil's Angela Park, the 2007 LPGA rookie of the year who fired a sparkling six-under-par 67 in calm morning conditions on Friday, led the tournament by a shot at six-under 140.

Veteran Swede Helen Alfredsson (71), Finland's Minea Blomqvist (69) and South Korea's Park Inbee (69) were a stroke behind in a tie for second place.

Thirty-six players had to complete the second round early on Saturday, following a delay of just under two-and-a-half hours on Friday afternoon due to the threat of lightning.

(Editing by Alan Baldwin)