[ad_1]
Issued on: Modified:
Los Angeles (AFP)
Hazardous weather halted Sunday’s final round of the 75th US Women’s Open, keeping the leaders at the clubhouse and increasing the chances of finishing Monday in the last major championship of the year.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 Women’s British Open champion, led in four-under-par 209 after three rounds with American Amy Olson one stroke back at Champions Golf Club in Houston, Texas.
Shibuno, 22, is trying to win her US Women’s Open debut, as she made her big debut last year. “Smiling Cinderella” won four times last year on the LPGA Tour of Japan.
The golfers were in triplets and tee times had been moved early to try and finish before sunset, but the last three leading groups had not started when the game was stopped about 25 minutes before Shibuno began.
The event was rescheduled from June due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which also prevented the attendance of spectators.
Olson, seeking her first LPGA title after 147 starts, would be the first player to make the US Women’s Open her first LPGA title since Hilary Lunke in 2003.
Moriya Jutanugarn of Thailand and Kim2 Ji-yeong of South Korea were the only other players under par after 54 holes, each at 212.
Moriya, whose only LPGA title came at the 2018 Los Angeles Open, could join her sister Ariya as the United States Women’s Open champion, becoming the first sisters to capture the crown.
Kim2 made the cut in the number and shot a 67 without ghosts Saturday to charge into contention.
© 2020 AFP
