Sixty-six players teed off. Two players broke par. Three more shot even. Nineteen players started Saturday under par for the tournament. Just four will start Sunday in red figures. Champions Golf Club, host of the U.S. Women’s Open, was the day’s champion. Here are three things you need to know after the third round in Houston.
Hinako Shibuno leads
Hinako Shibuno made three bogeys through the first two rounds.
She made four on Saturday.
Shibuno shot a three-over 74 to hold onto the lead she had entering the day, but a three-stroke advantage has dropped to one. She’s at four under overall, one shot ahead of first-round leader Amy Olson and three clear of Moriya Jutanugarn and Ji Yeong Kim2.
Shibuno made just birdie, on the par-5 5th, after making 10 over the first two rounds. She bogeyed the par-4 1st hole, the par-4 7th, the par-4 14th and the par-4 18 to tighten the top of the leaderboard.
“I was very nervous,” Shibuno said through a translator after her round.
Four players are under par
One shot behind Shibuno is Olson, who shot an even-par 71. She was two over for her round through 10, then she birdied 13 and 17.
“Yeah, I’m really pleased with how I played today,” Olson said. “It was such a grind. I just — pars were a great score on every single hole today. Fortunately made a couple good birdies, especially the one on 17 coming in. Some really solid par putts, and that’s really what it comes down to is making those putts whether they’re for birdie or par. So I’m very pleased with how I played.”
Jutanugarn and Kim2 are three back of Shibuno. Jutanugarn was one under for her round, then double-bogeyed the par-4 17th on her way to a one-over 72. Kim2 shot a four-under 67.
Ji Yeong Kim2 ties tournament low
On a day when scores were high, Kim2 went low.
She birdied 4, 9, 10 and 16 and made no bogeys on her way to the Saturday’s low round by three shots. The 67 also tied the tournament’s low round.
“In the first half of the round, I wasn’t keeping up, but later as the day went on, I did look and I was surprised to see how far I’ve come up on the scoreboard,” Kim2 said.
Among other players, Lydia Ko was at even par and four shots back; and Cristie Kerr, who was in a cart accident a week ago, was at one over and five behind.