Minjee Lee, Andrea Lee, and Wichanee Meechai are neck and neck after an exciting moving day at Lancaster Country Club. Here’s a recap of what transpired…
Get ready for an intense final round. The seasoned major champion, the former prodigy, and the qualifier are set to provide some thrilling action at Lancaster Country Club on Sunday. Let’s take a closer look at the events of day 3 at the US Women’s Open…
What happened in the US Women’s Open third round?
It’s a tight race at the top of the US Women’s Open leaderboard, with Minjee Lee, Andrea Lee, and Wichanee Meechai all tied at -5. After a challenging start to the tournament, the Lancaster Country Club course tested the players on moving day, but the leaders managed to take advantage of the conditions.
Minjee Lee, a previous winner of this trophy at Pine Needles, shot an impressive 66, matching the low round of the week. With an eagle on the 7th hole and birdies on the 11th, 12th, and 16th, along with just one bogey, she has positioned herself well to secure her third major title.
Meechai, who has been on the LPGA Tour for nine years without a win, fought hard to stay in contention. Despite nerves creeping in, especially before round two, she showed great composure on the back 9, making crucial putts to stay in the mix.
Andrea Lee, a standout player during her college years at Stanford, made a late surge with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th to join the leaders at the top.
While the focus is on the leading trio, Hinako Shibuno and Yuka Saso are not far behind and still have a chance to challenge for the title.
// Leaderboard after day three:
// -5 Meechai, Andrea Lee, Minjee Lee
// -3 Shibuno
// -2 Saso
// +1 Koiwai, Hee Im
// +2 Yubol, Takeda, Hyang Lee
Who had what to say at the US Women’s Open 2024?
Minjee Lee (-5)
“It didn’t feel super simple [today], but I just tried to stick to my game plan, tried to make birdies. Obviously I wanted to have a good score on round 3, moving day. I knew there was going to be some opportunities with some of the tees up for birdies, so yeah, pretty much I just tried to take it step by step as you do as a US Open and just stayed in the moment.”
“I don’t think I’m going to do too much differently [on Sunday]. I’ve played in a few last groups before. I’m sure I’ll have nerves – even that last putt on 18 I was nervous. It’s a lot of people watching, and I’m just going to try and stay in the moment. It’s always nice to be in the final group. It means you’re contending.”
Wichanee Meechai (-5)
“Because I feel so nervous and I don’t like the pressure at all, my manager told me to lockout on all of my social media. But I got a lot of texts, but I didn’t answer any one. Just called my mom, and she was hoping that I could be patient on the course. That’s it. I’m trying not to look [at] anything on my phone because it’s going to put pressure on me, so I turn off everything.”
Andrea Lee (-5)
“It’s an incredible feeling. It’s something that I’ve always dreamed of, vying for major championship wins.”
“Michelle Wie West texted me last night, and she told me just whatever the outcome is, just put your 100 percent effort into it. No matter what happens it’s a privilege to be in this moment, to have this opportunity.”
“I really took that to heart, and yeah, today I just tried to have fun out there and just play the golf course and not try to play against the field, just me and the golf course.”
Hinako Shibuno (-3)
“I myself got so surprised that I made seven birdies. I think that I got pretty good hit in the shots, so that I was able to be more aggressive.”
“So from my position right now, I cannot think about that, however, thinking about winning the title. Yesterday I mentioned I would like to enjoy playing golf. I feel the same way. However, today I felt nausea all the way.”
US Women’s Open 2024: Stat of the day
This is an interesting stat from Justin Ray that may give some insight into the final round. Minjee Lee has a strong record of converting 54-hole leads into wins and excels in final round scoring and strokes gained categories.
// Stat of the day from Justin Ray:
Minjee Lee (co-leader) is 7-for-9 in her LPGA career converting 54-hole leads and co-leads into wins. She leads the LPGA Tour this season in final round scoring, final round strokes gained tee-to-green and final round strokes gained approach.
Shots of the day
A Lim Kim ended her round on a high note with a birdie on the 17th and an impressive eagle on the last hole. It was a stunning finish that showcased her skills on the course.
Who will win the US Women’s Open 2024?
What has been the highlight of the US Women’s Open 2024 so far? Tell NCG on X!
