LANCASTER, Pa. – Meaghan Francella saw this coming. Her boss, Marina Alex, had missed five consecutive cuts on the LPGA, but the confidence that she took from three rounds in the 60s two weeks ago in Arkansas carried over to the U.S. Women’s Open, where Alex is competing for the first time in the championship as a professional.
Alex, 24, birdied three of her last six holes at Lancaster Country Club to shoot 4-under 66 and share the early lead with major giant Karrie Webb. Francella, a former LPGA player who has played in twice the number of Women’s Opens as Alex, started working with the second-year tour player in May at the Kingsmill Championship.