Australian Minjee Lee is five shots off the pace set by China's Shanshan Feng after the second round of the US Women's Open at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Feng carded a 70 to move to eight under and increase her lead at the top to two shots, on a day where the golfers were upstaged by golf course's owner.
Korean trio Amy Yang (71), Jeongeaun Lee (69) and amateur Hye Jin Choi (69) are tied second while their compatriot Seon Woo Bae (69) is fifth at five under.
World No.1 So Yeon Ryu is at four under, after firing a 72, in a tie for sixth.
Chasing a maiden major title, 21-year-old Lee shot an even-par round of 72, which included four birdies and a double bogey, to be at three under alongside former world No.1 Lydia Ko (73) and Canadian teenager Brooke Henderson (71).
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Fresh from her first LPGA Tour victory in seven years last weekend, Australian veteran Katherine Kirk shot 73 to be in a tie for 21st at one under.
Seven-time major winner Karrie Webb made three birdies in a round of 71 make the cut at one over, along with youngster Su Oh (74).
Sarah Jane Smith had a 77 to miss the cut at five over, with Aussie amateurs Roby Choi, at nine over, and Anne Chen, 27 over, also having the weekend off.
Chen, just 15, shot 88 on Friday in a round that included a triple bogey, three double bogeys and seven bogeys.
Other notables to to miss the cut were world No.2 ranked Ariya Jutanugarn and two-time US Open champion Inbee Park.
Friday's play was somewhat overshadowed by the arrival of US President Donald Trump, who appeared in a glassed-off patio of the clubhouse with son Eric by his side.
Acknowledging the crowds, the president waved, pointed and gave a thumbs-up.
His presence did pose a distraction to players with leader Feng confirming she could hear crowds screaming for the president from the 15th green.
"I heard people like kind of screaming so that's what I was trying to find out, like why they were screaming," she said.
"But I was still really focusing on my game. I didn't really get distracted."
American Lexi Thompson telling reporters "not toward the golf" when asked in which direction crowds were looking during the second round.
Trump is the first sitting president to attend the US Women's Open.
