Amy Yang of South Korea shot 1-under-par 69 and took a three-stroke lead over Stacy Lewis into the final round of the 70th Women’s U.S. Open at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pa..
Yang finished 54 holes in 8-under 202, the second lowest 54-hole total in Women’s Open history.
“I don’t know, I’m just not thinking so much anything like that out there,” said Yang, whose score was one stroke off the record set by Juli Inkster when she claimed the title in 1999. “I just try to hit one shot at a time the best I can do.
” … Me and my coach, we prepared. We practiced hard. I’ll go out there and I’ll just do my best, like what I practice.”
Playing in the final group of the U.S. Women’s Open will be nothing new for Yang, who will turn 26 later this month.
Yang did it 2012, when she closed with a 71 to finish second, four strokes behind Na Yeon Choi, also of South Korea, and again last year, when her 74 left her in a tie for fourth, four shots behind Michelle Wie.
“It was good experience the last two — the final group experience,” Yang said.
Even though she has never won a major title, Yang knows how to get to the winner’s circle.
She claimed her second LPGA Tour victory earlier this year in the Honda LPGA Thailand, and she also has won three times on the Ladies European Tour and twice on the Japan LPGA Tour.
Lewis, who has won two major titles and finished second to Wie in this championship last year, overcame a balky putter to get home in 69.
In Gee Chun of South Korea is another stroke back after a 68, while Shilo Oyama of Japan is five shots behind after a 71.
Chella Choi set a tournament record by posting a 6-under 29 on the front nine en route to a 64 and was six strokes behind in a tie for fifth with Wie (68), top-ranked Inbee Park of South Korea (70) and Mi Hyang Lee (68), also of South Korea.
Choi missed a three-foot par putt on the final hole and was one shot shy of the tournament record of 63 set by Helen Alfredsson of Sweden in the first round in 1994.
Morgan Pressel posted a 71 and was another stroke back in a tie for ninth with Min Lee of Taiwan, who had a 70, and Jane Park, who came in at 71.
