Minjee Lee was trailing by four shots when she made an impressive eagle on the par-5 seventh hole, propelling her to a 4-under 66 and a share of the lead at the U.S. Women’s Open.
Joining Minjee Lee at the top are Stanford alum Andrea Lee and Thailand’s Wichanee Meechai. Andrea Lee overcame early mistakes and finished with a bogey-free back nine for a 67. Meechai, who was the only player to reach 6-under par this week, saved par twice on the closing three holes to card a 69. These performances left them all tied at 5-under 205.
Big names like Nelly Korda had already exited from Lancaster Country Club, leaving a fierce contest among a select group of five players under par. Minjee Lee’s resurgence began with her precise approach to 2 feet for eagle on the seventh hole, followed by a significant birdie on the par-3 12th hole, landing her ball just 3 feet from the tricky front left pin.
Hinako Shibuno, a former Women’s British Open champion, shot a 66 with seven birdies, positioning herself two shots behind. Former Women’s Open champion Yuka Saso was also in the mix until she dropped two shots over the final four holes, salvaging a crucial par on the 17th with a brave flop shot over a bunker. Saso finished the day with a 69.
Minjee Lee remarked on the favorable conditions, noting the ‘moving day’ potential for birdies thanks to a strategic setup by the USGA. She is no stranger to success in this major, having won it two years ago by a four-shot margin. As she looks forward to the final round, the competition remains intense with a crowded leaderboard.
Meechai, known as ‘Jan’ in America, is a less likely contender. Her only win recognized by the women’s world ranking was on the Taiwan LPGA nine years ago, and she currently stands at No. 158. Despite these odds, Meechai has shown remarkable composure, even after receiving a slow play warning during her round with Andrea Lee. She started strong with a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole and continued to impress with accurate shots and vital saves.
Andrea Lee began her round two shots behind the leader and made an immediate impact with a 25-foot birdie putt. Meechai matched this, and even reached 6 under with a birdie on the seventh. However, she dropped two shots on the back nine but recovered with a precise 8-iron shot on the 15th to reclaim the lead temporarily. Minjee Lee and Andrea Lee quickly matched her score, making for a thrilling finale.
The stakes are high with a $2.4 million prize for the winner, the largest in women’s golf. The atmosphere at Lancaster has been electric, reminiscent of its 2015 tournament. Three of the leaders are former major champions, adding to the drama. Meechai has approached the week with a lighthearted attitude, joking about a potentially haunted house she is staying in. Despite early morning wake-ups and dreams of the tournament, she has remained focused.
For 15-year-old Asterisk Talley, the youngest player in the field, the day was more challenging. Starting in the third-to-last group, she finished with a 78, falling from five shots behind to 14 shots out of the lead. Her valiant effort at such a young age is a testament to her potential in future tournaments.
With such fierce competition and a significant prize at stake, the final round promises to be a captivating finish to the U.S. Women’s Open.
Source: Espn
