LANCASTER: Minjee Lee made up a three-stroke deficit, while Andrea Lee overcame being two shots back to catch leader Wichanee Meechai on Saturday, forging a three-way tie and setting up what could be a drama-filled Sunday at the US Women's Open at Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club.
The Australian-born Minjee Lee knocked in an impressive eagle on Hole 7 to match two birdies from Meechai on 1 and 7, then recorded birdies on 11 and 12 to make up the rest of the difference.
She finished with a birdie on 16 after suffering a bogey on 14.
Lee's third-round, 4-under-par 66 matched the low round of the tournament and put her at 5-under 205 for the event.
When asked if her previous win at this event in 2022 might aid her today, Lee didn't hesitate to embrace the moment.
"I'm sure they're going to make it a little bit harder than today," Lee said. "But looking forward to the challenge and really looking forward to tomorrow.
"It's hard to get like super high on your expectations because it's always a tough – it's tough if you have super high expectations and the course is hard and difficult. I tried to just keep it pretty calm, and I just tried to be patient out there."
Meechai, from Thailand, suffered a bogey on 10 to open the door before stemming the tide somewhat with a birdie on 15. She finished 1-under (69) for the day with three birdies and two bogeys.
"To be honest, yesterday I thought about missing the cut because I used to be in this position," Meechai said. "Like the first day I shot pretty good, and then the second day I just like 80s and missed the cut by one. I cried a lot.
"I never think that I'm going to be on the leaderboard or something like that. But it's great. It feels really good."
The American Andrea Lee, meanwhile, was having an up-and-down first nine - birdies on 1, 3 and 5, bogeys on 4 and 8 – before settling in with birdies on holes 15 and 16 to force the three-way tie going into yoday.
"I think I'm just steadily getting a little bit better every year and just finding my rhythm out here on Tour," Andrea Lee said. "I feel really comfortable, especially this season. I feel like this is the most comfortable I've felt out here and the most fun that I've had since turning professional.
"I'm just trying to keep it as light as possible and just have a good mindset going into every single tournament, and I think that's panned out really well for me so far."
While the co-leaders have the current advantage, two more golfers are under par for the tournament and sit within striking distance.
Hinako Shibuno of Japan shot a 4-under 66 to match Minjee Lee and sits two strokes back in fourth. Countrywoman Yuka Saso shot a 1-under 69 to stay in contention as well. She's in fifth at 2 under.
Saso was the 18-hole leader and the 2021 US Women's Open champ.
"I don't think I'm going to change anything," Saso said. "Just keep doing what I'm doing and focus on every shot and enjoy the last day of the US Open."
Rounding out the top 10 are South Korea's Jin Hee Im (70) and Sakura Koiwai of Japan (70) tied for sixth at 1 over, with Thailand's Arpichaya Yubol (68), Japan's Rio Takeda (69) and South Korea's Mi Hyang Lee (71) tied for eighth at 2 over. - REUTERS