Minjee Lee drives from the 4th today – photo USGA Darren Carroll
Just as she had entering today’s third round of the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links, defending champion Minjee Lee will again face an eight-shot deficit as she begins tomorrow’s final round.
Lee appeared to have worked herself into contention when after an outward nine of even par 36 she birdied the opening two holes of the homeward nine and at 1 under was within five of the then lead.
A double bogey at the 12th came after missing the green, then three putting from short range but she birdied the par 5 14th from 13 feet and was back at level par for the championship.
Lee did well to save par from the greenside bunker at the 17th but a poor drive at the last led to one final bogey and a round of 72 to leave her tied for 9th and eight shots from the lead held by Japan’s Nasa Hataoka.
Gabi Ruffels made a big move in today’s third round – photo USGA
The big forward move amongst the Australasians in the field would come from Gabi Ruffels who, after starting the day in 47th place, improved to a share of 14th following her round of 2 under par 70 which was bettered by only Hataoka.
Ruffels was 3 under through 4 holes on a day where scoring would prove difficult in the windy and firm conditions but the 23 year old, despite not yet being an LPGA Tour player, already owns three top twenties in major championships and tomorrow she has a chance to better her previous best of 13th in this event three years ago.
Grace Kim and Lydia Ko are tied for 29th at 5 over while Hannah Green is 46th at 7 over.
But the leader Nasa Hataoka was simply brilliant today as she carved out a round of 66 to better the previous best of the week by two and the best of day three by four.
Nasa Hataoka – with plenty of reason to smile following her round of 66 today – photo USGA
Hataoka is a well credentialed player with six LPGA Tour wins in addition to several more in Japan and although she has yet to win a major title she has gone close on several occasions.
The manner she handled the demands of a difficult Pebble Beach layout today gives hope to her many fans that this might be the week for such a breakthrough.
Two of Hataoka’s closest pursuers Allisen Corpuz (one behind) and Bailey Tardy (3 behind) have yet to win on the LPGA Tour let alone a major title while Hyo Joo Kim has won a major but other than a runner-up finish in this event in 2018 she has recorded a next best of 20th in eight starts at the US Women’s Open.
A player who might yet prove the thorn in everyone’s side is Jiyai Shin who has played the Japan and Korean LPGA Tours in recent years after multiple success (11 wins) on the LPGA Tour including twice winning the AIG Open Championship.
Shin has also won several events in Australia including the Australian Open and has been quietly going about her business this week. With seven top tens in her last eight starts in Japan in 2023 including three runner-up finishes and a win she brings great from to this event and her chances of working her way into a winning position tomorrow appear good.
