The 22-year-old knows she has a long weekend ahead in pursuit of her first major win.

“I think that just going out this weekend is going to be hard,” Creamer said. “The USGA is not going to make it easy on us, that’s for sure. I’m going to have to be prepared for that.

“I’m going to hit some good shots and not be rewarded. I’m going to hopefully hit some good shots and be rewarded.”

Futures Tour player Jean Reynolds is third after a 72 for a 1-under 141.

Reynolds continued to be the surprise of the event. A two-time winner this year on the Futures Tour — and its leading money winner — she hung tough in just her second Women’s Open.

“I’ve managed to just leave myself in good positions to where I’m not making big numbers,” she said. “I’ve made my share of bogeys, but I’ve been fortunate to make a lot of birdies this week, too.”

Reynolds overcame hitting just nine of 14 fairways to give herself a shot at the championship.

First-round leader Na Yeon Choi of South Korea shot a 3-over 74 and was tied with Giulia Sergas of Italy at even par. Sergas had the lowest round of the day, a 4-under 67.

Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa struggled to a round of 8-over 79 and stood at 6-over for the championship.

The final two rounds will be spiced with a bit of old and new. Former champion Laura Davies, playing on a special exemption, made the cut, as did 14-year-old amateur Alexis Thompson, who is in contention after a 73 put her at 2-over and tied for eighth.

Davies followed an opening 72 with a 75 and is at 5-over, tied for 28th. She won the 1987 Open, beating Ayako Okamoto and JoAnne Carner in an 18-hole playoff for her first professional victory. She has played in every Open since 1986.

Thompson made the cut for the first time in three tries, following an even-par 71 with a 2-over 73. But her 2-over 144 score not only made the cut by seven strokes, it left her in contention for the title two years after she became the youngest player ever to qualify for the Women’s Open.

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