After starting the day with a four-stroke lead, Japan’s Hinako Shibuno carded her first over-par round of the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open on Saturday, shooting a 3-over 74 at Champions Golf Club. The 2019 AIG Women’s Open champion holds a one-stroke advantage over American Amy Olson, whose even-par 71 moved her into solo second going into Sunday’s final round.
Shibuno carded four bogeys to just one birdie on a wet Cypress Creek Course, opening with a bogey on No. 1 and stumbling to the finish with bogeys on 14 and 18. She said the nerves of being in the final group played a factor in her Saturday struggles, as well as the all-too-familiar 2020 feeling of not having fans outside the ropes.
“Last year when I won the major, there was a large number of people out in front of me and because of the audience, that gave me power and also it's easy for me to get on a momentum as well,” said Shibuno. “However, now there's no people, no audience and it's very difficult for me to get on a momentum, because when I get a run of birdies, when I get the birdie, it's silence.”
Olson, who held the 18-hole lead following a first-round 67, nearly holed out from the fairway with an 8-iron on No. 17, taking the short birdie to cap her round and move back into the final group.
“I'm really pleased with how I played today. It was such a grind,” said Olson, who played in the final group at the 2018 ANA Inspiration and 2018 Evian Championship but came up short of both major titles. “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, making those putts whether they're for birdie or par.”
Moriya Jutanugarn was -2 through 13 holes and within two strokes of Shibuno’s lead. She dropped a shot at No. 14 and then made double-bogey on the 17th hole to card a 1-over 72. Sitting at -1 overall, Jutanugarn will round out Sunday’s final group with Shibuno and Olson.
After receiving four-tenths of an inch of rain overnight, Champions’ Cypress Creek Course showed its teeth on Saturday, with the scoring average jumping to 74.697, more than a stroke higher than Friday. Only Ji Yeong Kim2 (-4) and Hae Ran Ryu (-1) returned sub-par rounds on Saturday, with Kim2 jumping into Sunday’s penultimate grouping after starting on the 10th tee in the third round.
Playing alongside Shibuno in Saturday’s final group, amateurs Linn Grant and Kaitlyn Papp, shot +7 and +4, respectively, to drop off the pace. Defending U.S. Women’s Open champion Jeongeun Lee6 shot a third-round 73 and is tied for 15th at +2 overall.
)
)
)
)
