Moving day at the 75th Women’s U.S. Open was more like “keep you head above water” day.
With Cypress Creek playing tougher than tough, Hinako Shibuno managed to cling to the lead but saw it shrink from three shots to just one. The Japanese star will go into the final 18 holes just a shot ahead of American Amy Olson, the first round leader.
Shibuno bogeyed two holes on the final nine, including the 18th for a 74 that dropped her back to four-under after she started the day seven-under.
Olson hung tough and posted three-under after finishing with an even par 71.
Only two other players are in red numbers — Moriya Jutanugarn is one-under after shooting 72 while South Korean Ji Young Kim2 shot an attention-getting 67. She was the only player in the field to shoot under par. She started the day four-over and with a two-tee start, finished up on the ninth hole. If she can play anywhere near that good on Sunday, she can be a factor.
Here’s how the contenders are lined up behind Shibuno, who is looking for her second major championship:
Even Par (142):
Lydia Ko: Ko shot 72 and has the most impressive resume among all the players within four shots of the leader.
Yealimi Noh: The first-year player on the LPGA Tour has been impressive for the past month. She shot 72.
Megan Kang: She shot 74 and has been hanging around the top all week.
Kaitlyn Papp: The senior from the University of Texas started the third round at three-under par but a 74 dropped her back to even. She’s fading.
One-Over Par (143):
Jin Young Ko: If the world’s No. 1 can shoot four or five-under on Sunday, she might be hoisting the trophy. She turned in a 71 on Saturday.
Sei Young Kim: If anyone can go low over the final 18, it’s Kim. She wasn’t sharp on Saturday — shot 73.
Ariya Jutanugarn: She’s looking up at her older sister — Moriya. She was done in by a bogey at 10, a double at 11 then a closing bogey at 18 for 74.
Cristie Kerr: Feel-good story of the tournament. Competing with cracked ribs from last week’s golf cart accident. Shot 74 in the third round.
A Lim Kim: Little known South Korean turned in 72.
Hae Ran Ryu: Even lesser-known that A Lim Kim. Still, she turned in the day’s second low round — one-under par 70.
The course took more than a half-inch of rain Friday night but the greens were still slick. Players had to put up with mud balls from the fairways. More bad weather could be in store for Sunday so the USGA is moving up the tee times once again to try and beat the approaching inclement weather.
