Wu Yibing becomes first Chinese man to reach the US Open third round since 1881The Chinese youngster has a good chance of reaching the third round at Flushing Meadows.
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LONDON – A year after his father died, Wu Yibing found a kindred spirit on the fourth hole of one of the best U.S. Open courses.
The 17-year-old played a bogey-free, one-under par 64 Monday in his only start at the U.S. Open, a victory over Rocco Mediate that vaulted him into the third round.
“He put it all on the line and he’s playing as well as he can play right now,” said Wu, who posted his first professional victory last weekend.
“He’s a pretty good player actually. I was also very impressed with his performance. He’s a long way from his father, but his heart is in the right place.”
Wu came into this U.S. Open with a record-tying 18 Major first-round wins and is the youngest player to start all 18 at major championships. He played at a tournament where the top eight players all played the first day.
The Chinese was the only one to put up a score, which was one shot better than his father, Chinese pro and former World Tenpin Bowling Tour player Ding Junhui, who died two years ago.
Wu beat Mediate 3-up (1) after both players made bogeys on the first hole. Mediate broke a shot in the second and then made two straight bogeys in the third and fourth.
“It was not easy today, but there’s still a long way to go,” Wu said. “It’s all about having good concentration, moving up from hole to hole, and then making putts at the end.”
Wu, who was paired with Canadian Jordan Spieth for the day, shot a 10 under par 73 on an even-par 72-hole course and has been in the top 50 in all 14 of his starts on