Shanshan Feng (9-under 207) has led the U.S. Women’s Open after each of the first three rounds. She is seeking to become the first start-to-finish winner, with no ties, since Hollis Stacy in 1977.
Feng’s one bogey through 54 holes is the fewest through three rounds in U.S. Women’s Open history. Feng’s only bogey was on No. 10 in the second round.
If Feng wins, she would be the first player from The People’s Republic of China to win the U.S. Women’s Open. Alice “Fumie” Jo is the only other player from The People’s Republic of China to win a USGA championship – the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links.
Hye-Jin Choi’s 8-under 208 is the lowest 54-hole total by an amateur in U.S. Women’s Open history. Grace Park was at 6-under 210 through three rounds in 1999 at Old Waverly Country Club.
Choi, the low amateur at CordeValle in 2016, is tied for second place through three rounds. It is the first time an amateur has been in that position through 54 holes since Michelle Wie and Morgan Pressel co-led (with Karen Stupples) at Cherry Hills Country Club in 2005.
On Sunday, Choi will attempt to become the second amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open. Catherine LaCoste won the 1967 championship at The Homestead.
Choi will also attempt to become the fifth player to win on her first attempt. The others are Patty Berg (1946), Kathy Cornelius (1956), Birdie Kim (2005) and In Gee Chun (2015).
This is the fourth consecutive year that Amy Yang has been in the top 4 through 54 holes in the U.S. Women’s Open. Yang was tied for first with Michelle Wie in 2014 at Pinehurst No. 2, led by three strokes in 2015 at Lancaster Country Club, was tied for fourth in 2016 at CordeValle and is tied for second this year.
Sung Hyun Park’s second-nine 6-under 30 ties the lowest nine-hole score in relation to par in the U.S. Women’s Open. It is the seventh 30 in U.S. Women’s Open history. Chella Choi shot 29 on the first nine of the third round in 2015 at Lancaster Country Club.
Cristie Kerr, who was (2-under 70) on Saturday, shot her 16th sub-par round in the U.S. Women’s Open, trailing only Inbee Park and Stacy Lewis (17) for most among active players. Kerr also leads the field in putting through 54 holes.
Twelve of the top 13 players on the leader board are international players. Cristie Kerr, the 2007 champion is the lone American in that group.
Three U.S. Women’s Open champions are in the top-10 through 54 holes:
- So Yeon Ryu (2011), T5, 68-72-71—211
- Cristie Kerr (2007), T8, 69-73-70—212
- Eun-Hee Ji (2009), T10, 73-71-69—213
Eight of the top-10 players in the Rolex Rankings are in the top-30 through two rounds:
- Shanshan Feng (No. 6), 1st
- Amy Yang (No. 9), T-2
- So Yeon Ryu (No. 1), T-5
- Brooke Henderson (No. 8), T-14
- Sei Young Kim (No. 10), T-14
- In Gee Chun (No. 5), T-23
- Lydia Ko (No. 4), T-23
- Lexi Thompson (No. 3), T-27
