After shooting an opening-round even-par 72, the Australian double-bogeyed the 9th, her last hole on Friday, to card a 73 and drop back to one-over for the tournament.

Earlier she had three bogeys to go with birdies on the 6th and 18th, and an eagle on the par-4 16th thanks to a stunning 9-iron from 141 yards that found the bottom of the cup.

Lee is in a group of 10 players tied for 11th, eight shots behind leader Bailey Tardy.

“I feel like I’m probably in a pretty good position right now,” Lee said.

“I can be maybe a little bit more aggressive and, you know, maybe put up a score earlier than the girls. Maybe it won't be as windy. Then see where I am after that.

“Playing late in the day was actually really hard. We waited like 30 minutes on the 8th tee, and the last two holes was really tough, just having to have waited and then have to play in the cold.

“It was just a tough test.”

Lee celebrates her hole-out eagle from 141 yards on Friday. PHOTO: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images.

LPGA rookie Tardy has five missed cuts in 10 events this season and nearly didn't qualify to play in this week's major championship. But the American is atop the leaderboard after two rounds, as a four-under 68 left her at seven-under.

"I'm honestly just enjoying the moment here," Tardy said after making the cut for the first time in her four U.S Women's Opens.

"I'm leading the U.S Open at Pebble Beach. And I think that's something that is just so special. I'm trying not to get too ahead of myself. There's so much golf left."

The 26-year-old will carry a two-shot lead over compatriot Allisen Corpuz (70) and co-leader after round one Hyo Joo Kim (71) into the weekend.

Another South Korean in Hae Ran Ryu (72) is fourth at three-under, with Ireland's Leona Maguire and Japan's Nasa Hataoka tied for fifth at one-under after each shooting 74s.

“I feel like I’m probably in a pretty good position right now. I can be maybe a little bit more aggressive and, you know, maybe put up a score earlier than the girls. Maybe it won't be as windy. Then see where I am after that." - Minjee Lee.

The top-60 players and ties made the cut at six-over-par or better. World No.1 Jin Young Ko was not among them. The South Korean couldn't sink a birdie putt on her final hole and missed the cut by a single shot, following Thursday's 79 with a 72.

Thailand's Atthaya Thitikul (76), Americans Jennifer Kupcho (77) and Lexi Thompson (79) were other notables to miss the cut.

Lee, the World No.5 from Western Australia, is trying to emulate Karrie Webb in going back-to back at the U.S Women’s Open with the Australian great the last player to achieve the feat in 2000-2001.

Lee was spearheading a five-strong Aussie charge in California, with Hannah Green next best of the four to make the weekend, the major winner at three-over at the halfway point and in a share of 26th after a second round 71.

It was the same round two result for Gabi Ruffels, who is chasing a seventh top-25 at the majors from just eight starts, with the American based Victorian currently tied for 47th on five-over, while Sydneysider Grace Kim is a shot further back in a share of 58th.

Making her major championship debut, West Australian amateur Maddison Hinson-Tolchard followed up her opening 78 with a Friday 80 that saw her end her tournament at 14-over and well outside the cutline.