Miyu Yamashita takes slim lead into final round at Women’s Open

PORTHCAWL, Wales: Miyu Yamashita of Japan maintained her lead through three rounds of the AIG Women’s Open despite stumbling to a 2-over par 74 on Saturday at Porthcawl, Wales.

After holding a three-shot lead through the midway point of the tournament, Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I think one of the main things is not missing in the wrong spots,” said Yamashita, whose best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2024 Women’s PGA Championship. “Because I’m able to do that, that means I don’t put myself in awkward positions and helps me not make those bogeys which can cost you so much at these championships.”

A Lim Kim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round after a nine-hole stretch when she compiled four birdies. Andrea Lee of the United States also shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and was alone in third place at 7 under.

“So honestly I’m not focused on the leader,” Kim said. “I focus on my process and my shot and then my position. That’s all.”

A group of four tied for fourth place at 6 under included Japan’s Minami Katsu and Rio Takeda, England’s Charley Hull and American Megan Khang.

Yamashita breezed to a 7-under par 65 in the second round to move into the lead but struggled to find that form Saturday. She was 1 over on the front nine with a bogey and eight pars. She was 1 over again on an eventful back nine that included three bogeys and two birdies.

Yamashita was even par for the round through 13 holes until she recorded a pair of bogey 5s at No. 14 and 16.

“I’ll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements