U.S. Women's Open Third Round: Sweden's Maja Stark sets up chance of first major title
Sweden's Maja Stark takes a narrow one-shot lead into the final round of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills.
1 | Maja Stark | -7 |
2 | Julia Lopez Ramirez | -6 |
T3 | Mao Saigo | -5 |
T3 | Rio Takeda | -5 |
T3 | Hinako Shibuno | -5 |
6 | Nelly Korda | -4 |
T7 | Linn Grant | -3 |
T7 | Sarah Schmelzel | -3 |
T7 | Nelly Korda | -3 |
Sweden's Maja Stark has set up a golden chance to win her first major title after she moved into the lead on day three of the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills.
Stark, 25, carded a steady 2-under 70 on Saturday to move to the top of the leaderboard on 7-under par.
The World No.33 now assumes a narrow one-shot lead over Spain's Julia Lopez Ramirez (68).
Japanese trio Rio Takeda (70), Hinako Shibuno (72) and Mao Saigo (75) are tucked in a further shot behind on 5-under par.
World No.1 Nelly Korda (73) slipped back slightly but a birdie on the par-5 18th kept her in contention in solo sixth on 4-under par.
Linn Grant (73), Minjee Lee (71) and Sarah Schmelzel (74) are a further shot back in a tie for seventh.
While it's not been the best season to date for Stark, with just one top-10 finish in eight starts, her fortunes could very much change on Sunday.
Stark will now attempt to become the first European and also the first Swede to win the U.S. Women's Open since golf legend Annika Sorenstam in 2006.
Lopez Ramirez is also flying the flag for Europe as the World No.440 attempts to land something of a shock victory and a first ever win in this tournament for Spain.
Saigo, who is ranked 13th in the world, will attempt to win the season's first two majors.
The last player to win both the Chevron Championship and U.S Women's Open in the same season was South Korea's Inbee Park in 2013.
Stark has only won once on the LPGA.
That victory came at the ISPS World Handa Invitational in August 2022.
She has also won six times on the Ladies European Tour.
Korda will likely be many people's favourite to get the job done on Sunday though.
The American is seeking a third career major and a first U.S. Women's Open title.
Despite winning seven times on the LPGA in 2024, Korda is still going in search of a first win this season.
Yealimi Noh has been accused of 'anchoring' by a large number of LPGA fans during this week's tournament.
Noh had assumed an early lead on Thursday but she has since slipped back to 2-under par in T10.
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