Looks like Sarah Jane Smith’s two days of fame have come to an end.
Smith, the 36-hole leader at the Women’s U.S. Open was 10-under and looking good but Saturday’s third round was a different story.
Ariya Jutanugarn, the world’s fifth-ranked player, took command of the proceedings at Shoal Creek with a five-under par 67 that built for her a four-shot lead going into Sunday’s final round.
Smith couldn’t keep pace and finished with a two-over par 74 that dropped her back to eight-under par. Still, she’s the closest to Jutanugarn.
Jutanugarn, like most of the field, had to complete her second round early Saturday. She was up at 4 a.m. to get ready. She looked great most of the longest day. The only ding on her scorecard came when she three-putted the par three 16th hole from 54 feet.
Other than that, her six birdies blew the rest of the field away.
She’s six shots clear of Hyo Joo Kim and seven ahead of Jihyun Kim. Inbee Park, the world’s No. 1, will start the final 18 eight behind the leader.
