Amy Yang of South Korea shot 2-under-par 68 and was tied for the lead with Michelle Wie through three rounds of the 69th U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Yang, whose only victory on the LPGA Tour came in the 2013 LPGA-KEB Hana Bank Championship, carded six birdies in her round, and was alone at the top until making a bogey on the 18th hole.
“It was hard, but I hit the ball solid and putted well when I got on the greens,” said Yang, who has won five times as a pro, including three victories on the Ladies European Tour. “I played really solid today.
“This will be my third experience like this in the final round of a major and I think I’m going to do pretty good (on Sunday).”
Wie held a four-stroke lead after 10 holes, but it began to evaporate with a double-bogey from a greenside bunker on No. 11. That began her struggles as she played a three-hole stretch in 4-over en route to a 72.
Juli Inkster, the 53-year-old from Santa Cruz and San Jose State who says she is playing in her final U.S. Women’s Open, had the round of the tournament with a 66 and was four shots back in a tie for third with Stephanie Meadow (69) of Northern Ireland, Na Yeon Choi (71) of South Korea and 18-year-old amateur Minjee Lee (72) of Australia.
Seven-time major champion Karrie Webb of Australia shot 70 and was another stroke back in a tie for seventh with Lexi Thompson (74), So Yeon Ryu (70) of South Korea, Pornanong Phatlum (69) of Thailand and Sakura Yokomine (71) of Japan.
Top-ranked Stacy Lewis struggled to a 74 and was six shots back in a tie for 12th with Paula Creamer (72) and Chella Choi (69) of South Korea.
in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C.
Yang, whose only victory on the LPGA Tour came in the 2013 LPGA-KEB Hana Bank Championship, carded six birdies in her round, and was alone at the top until making a bogey on the 18th hole.
“It was hard, but I hit the ball solid and putted well when I got on the greens,” said Yang, who has won five times as a pro, including three victories on the Ladies European Tour. “I played really solid today.
“This will be my third experience like this in the final round of a major and I think I’m going to do pretty good (on Sunday).”
Wie held a four-stroke lead after 10 holes, but it began to evaporate with a double-bogey from a greenside bunker on No. 11. That began her struggles as she played a three-hole stretch in 4-over en route to a 72.
Juli Inkster, the 53-year-old from Santa Cruz and San Jose State who says she is playing in her final U.S. Women’s Open, had the round of the tournament with a 66 and was four shots back in a tie for third with Stephanie Meadow (69) of Northern Ireland (69), Na Yeon Choi (71) of South Korea and 18-year-old amateur Minjee Lee (72) of Australia.
Seven-time major champion Karrie Webb of Australia shot 70 and was another stroke back in a tie for seventh with Lexi Thompson (74), So Yeon Ryu (70) of South Korea, Pornanong Phatlum (69) of Thailand and Sakura Yokomine (71) of Japan.
Top-ranked Stacy Lewis struggled to a 74 and was six shots back in a tie for 12th with Paula Creamer (72) and Chella Choi of South Korea (69).
