Minjee Lee sets record pace in third round to pull away at US Women’s Open

Minjee Lee set a new 54-hole record at the US Women’s Open on Saturday as she moved three shots ahead of the field with one round to play in North Carolina.

The Australian carded a four-under 67 which saw her move to a 13-under-par total of 200 through the first three days, breaking Juli Inkster’s record of 201 from 1999. First-round leader Mina Harigae, who started Saturday tied with Lee, carded a 70 and sits in second place.

Seven-time LPGA Tour winner Lee recovered from bogeying the par-three fifth hole with a birdie on the par-four sixth, then kicked up a gear with four consecutive birdies from the ninth at the Pine Needles course.

“When I was on the run of birdies, I wasn’t too nervous,” Lee, the world No 4, said afterwards. “I think coming down the stretch a little bit more, just with more people maybe, just a little bit more pressure. I’m pretty calm. My personality is pretty calm anyway. I don’t think I get too high or too low. I think that’s a strength of mine.”England’s Bronte Law begins Sunday in third place, six shots behind Lee, after mixing five birdies with two bogeys en route to a 68. The Swedish amateur Ingrid Lindblad and her compatriot, Anna Nordqvist are among six players tied for fourth place, a further shot behind.

That group also includes the world No 1, Ko Jin-young, the world No 3 Lydia Ko, China’s Lin Xiyu and Choi Hye-jin of South Korea. Megan Khang and Ireland’s Leona Maguire are in the group tied for 10th place at five-under-par.