Golf: Yamashita leads by a shot after Women's British Open 3rd round
After shooting 68 and 65 in the first two rounds through Friday at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales, Yamashita could only manage a 2-over 74, with two birdies and four bogeys, but stayed on course for her first win on the U.S. LPGA Tour or in a major at 9-under 207.
"I was able to channel my nervous energy, but my shots were wayward in the strong wind and I struggled on the green too," Yamashita said on her 24th birthday.
"I'll concentrate on the shot right in front of me (in the final round)."
Kim A Lim of South Korea is second and Andrea Lee of the United States is another shot back in third, while Thursday co-leader Takeda and Katsu are in a four-way tie for fourth.
Takeda began the day in second but also struggled to a 74 after carding three birdies and five bogeys.
"The wind was blowing from the opening hole and it felt like a day to persevere," said the 22-year-old, who has two wins on the tour. "It was wasteful that I missed par putts on the back nine. I hope to adjust tomorrow."
Katsu tied the best round of the tournament, a 65, with an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys.
"Today, I was swinging really confidently. It was a day I had a good feeling," said the 27-year-old who is also seeking her first win on the tour. "There were many birdies that I carved out. I am proud of myself."
Mao Saigo is 11th at 3-under and Chisato Iwai is a shot back in 18th.
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The Mainichi
7 hours ago
- The Mainichi
Golf: Yamashita leads by a shot after Women's British Open 3rd round
PORTHCAWL, Wales (Kyodo) -- Japan's Miyu Yamashita held onto a one-stroke lead following the Women's British Open third round on Saturday, with compatriots Rio Takeda and Minami Katsu sitting three shots behind. After shooting 68 and 65 in the first two rounds through Friday at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Wales, Yamashita could only manage a 2-over 74, with two birdies and four bogeys, but stayed on course for her first win on the U.S. LPGA Tour or in a major at 9-under 207. "I was able to channel my nervous energy, but my shots were wayward in the strong wind and I struggled on the green too," Yamashita said on her 24th birthday. "I'll concentrate on the shot right in front of me (in the final round)." Kim A Lim of South Korea is second and Andrea Lee of the United States is another shot back in third, while Thursday co-leader Takeda and Katsu are in a four-way tie for fourth. Takeda began the day in second but also struggled to a 74 after carding three birdies and five bogeys. "The wind was blowing from the opening hole and it felt like a day to persevere," said the 22-year-old, who has two wins on the tour. "It was wasteful that I missed par putts on the back nine. I hope to adjust tomorrow." Katsu tied the best round of the tournament, a 65, with an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys. "Today, I was swinging really confidently. It was a day I had a good feeling," said the 27-year-old who is also seeking her first win on the tour. "There were many birdies that I carved out. I am proud of myself." Mao Saigo is 11th at 3-under and Chisato Iwai is a shot back in 18th.
Yomiuri Shimbun
14 hours ago
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Yamashita Struggles and Sees Her Women's British Open Lead Shrink to 1 Shot over Kim
PORTHCAWL, Wales (AP) — Miyu Yamashita was crooked off the tee and struggled on the greens, a rough combination that led to a hard-fought round of 2-over 74 on Saturday that shrunk her lead to one shot over A Lim Kim in the Women's British Open. Yamashita, who led by three shots going into the third round, did not hit a fairway over the last 11 holes and still managed to stay in front at Royal Porthcawl, though it wasn't easy. She was on the verge of losing the lead on the 17th when she blasted out of a pot bunker all the way across the green to the fringe, some 40 feet away. She holed that putt for par, and then missed a birdie chance from just inside 6 feet on the par-5 closing hole. That put Yamashita — who turned 24 on Saturday — at 9-under 207. '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. Kim put on a fabulous display as the wind got stronger with a 5-under 67. She had a chance to tie for the lead when she hit a 335-yard drive on the 18th hole with a helping wind and fast links turf. She went just long, used her putter from off the green and took three putts for par. Even so, it puts her in the final group with Yamashita as Lim goes for her second major, having won the U.S. Women's Open in 2020 in Houston without fans during the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Honestly I'm not focused on the leader. I focus on my process and my shot and then my position,' Kim said. And it's not just Kim with a chance. Yamashita's struggles brought several possibilities in the final round, including the always entertaining Charley Hull of England. She shot a 66, going from 11 shots behind to within three shots of the lead as Hull goes for her first major. 'I just kind of enjoy chasing,' Hull said of playing from behind. 'It's more fun that way.' Andrea Lee had a 67 and was two shots behind, followed by Hull, Megan Khang (68), Rio Takeda (74) and Minami Katsu, whose 65 matched the low score of the tournament. 'I think there will be a little bit of extra pressure on whoever is the 54-hole leader,' Lee said. 'Tomorrow is going to be pretty tough. Anything can happen out there. I think anyone within five shots has a chance at this championship honestly, so I'm just going to try and keep my head down and stick to my own game plan and try not to look at the leaderboard.' The Women's British Open had the look of a Japanese duel, with Yamashita three shots ahead of Takeda and no one else closer than seven shots. But it was a struggle for Yamashita early with her putting, and then one of the straightest drivers lost her way. She steadied herself with an approach — from the rough, of course — into 3 feet for birdie on No. 11, and a tee shot that settled 3 feet away for another birdie on the par-3 12th. But playing out of the fescue caught up with her, and except for that 40-foot par putt on the 17th to keep her in the lead, it was a struggle to get done with the round. Takeda wasn't much better, with two bogeys in four holes at the start and two more bogeys over the final five holes. Lottie Woad, the rising English star who won last week in her professional debut, birdied the last hole for a 71 and wound up six shots behind. Nelly Korda, the No. 1 player in women's golf, is likely to end the major championship season without a title. She shot 74 and fell nine shots behind. Korda has gone 13 tournaments without winning and risks losing her No. 1 ranking to Jeeno Thitikul depending on the final round. The LPGA Tour already is off to a historic start by not having a multiple winner through 19 tournaments, a streak that could continue. Only Kim and Takeda from the top 10 on the leaderboard have won this year.
Japan Today
19 hours ago
- Japan Today
Yamashita's lead in Women's British Open cut to one shot
golf Japan's Miyu Yamashita faces a test of her temperament as she bids to win a first major title after her lead in the Women's British Open was reduced to one stroke on Saturday. Yamashita, who was celebrating her 24th birthday, was three shots ahead going into the third round at Royal Porthcawl. But having posted a bogey-free 65 on Friday, she carded a two-over par 74 following erratic driving off the tee and struggles on the greens at the Welsh links course to head into Sunday's final round on nine-under par. "Today I'll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analysing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round tomorrow," said Yamashita, whose best finish at a major came when she tied for second place at last year's Women's PGA Championship. "The winds are really strong so that's something where club selection becomes quite difficult," she added. South Korea's Kim A-lim posted a five-under 67 on Saturday to move to within a shot of Yamashita in second place. Kim is bidding for her second major after winning the U.S. Women's Open in 2020 in Houston, when no spectators were present during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Honestly I'm not focused on the leader," insisted Kim. "I focus on my process and my shot and then my position." Andrea Lee of the United States also shot a 67 and sits third. Meanwhile, Japan's Minami Katsu sank seven birdies and an eagle for a brilliant 65 to climb into a share of fourth place. Katsu was joined on six under by England's Charley Hull, who started the day on even par, 11 shots off the lead, before raising hopes of a British winner with seven birdies. "I just kind of enjoy chasing," said Hull, still without a major title after several runners-up finishes, including at the 2023 Women's British Open. "It's more fun that way." World number one Nelly Korda is set to end the major championship season without a title after shooting 74 on Saturday and falling nine shots behind. Tied 36th in a group also including New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko, the American has now gone 13 tournament without a win and could lose her number one ranking to Thailand's Jeeno Thitikul depending on the outcome of Sunday's final round. © 2025 AFP
