After a 65 on Friday at the AIG Women’s Open, Miyu Yamashita shot a 74 (+2) to move to one shot clear of Korea’s A Lim Kim. Six players sit within three shots of the lead going into the final round of the last major of the season.
It was a difficult Saturday for Miya Yamashita, who struggled off the tee and on the greens. She hit just 50% of the fairways and had 34 putts in her round. Yamashita had this to say after her round on Saturday.
“Today I’ll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round tomorrow,” Yamashita said.
A Lim Kim shot a bogey-free round of 67 (-5) to move into second place. Although Kim hit 8/14 fairways on the day, she managed to miss two greens in her round. The 2020 U.S. Women’s Open champion explained her strategy after starting her round eight shots behind Yamashita.
“Honestly I’m not focused on the leader,” Kim said. “I focus on my process and my shot and then my position. That’s all.”
Team USA Solheim Cup winner Andrea Lee is in third place after a strong round on Saturday. She made seven birdies via 25 putts to move two strokes behind the leader.
Minami Katsu, Charley Hull, Megan Khang and Rio Takeda are tied at 6-under for the week, and three strokes behind Yamashita. Katsu had the low round on the course Saturday, with a 65 (-7). Although she made two bogeys in her first three holes, she made seven birdies and an eagle on the par-5 sixth. Charley Hull looks for her first major after her round of 66 (-6). Hull leads the field in fewest putts and is fifth in driving distance. Look for her to make a comeback on the final day.
Spain and Stanford’s Paula Martin Sampedro leads Carla Bernat by three strokes in the competition for the Smyth Salver. With a win, Martin Sampedro would be the seventh player to win the Women’s Amateur and the Smyth Salver in the same year. With a win, Bernat would be the second player to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Smyth Salver in the same year, after Lottie Woad in 2024.
The final round at the AIG Women’s Open will resume on Sunday, with the final group of Miyu Yamashita and A Lim Kim teeing off at 9:20 ET.
