Newcomer Lewis leads US Women's Open
IN: News | LPGA | US Womens Open (2008) | Round Three | by Bruce Young | 29 Jun 2008
23-year-old, Stacy Lewis, playing in just her second US Open and her first as a professional, is poised to turn the golfing world on its head when she heads out in tomorrow’s final round of the 63rd US Women’s Open.
Lewis, who turned professional earlier this month after an outstanding amateur career while at the University of Arkansas, put together a stunning bogey free third round of 67 and leads the most significant event in women’s golf by one shot over Paula Creamer and by two over Helen Alfredsson and In Bee Park.
Lewis won the NCAA Championship in 2007 and was a prolific winner of collegiate titles during her time at Arkansas. She intends playing as many LPGA events as she is entitled to on sponsor’s exemption between now and the end of the year and in doing so earn enough money to avoid LPGA Q-School. A win tomorrow will certainly put paid to any concerns in that regard but, either way, sponsors will surely be lining up to have her play their event based on her already brilliant performance this week.
Lewis gained access to this week’s event by heading the qualifiers at her venue in Texas and earned the right to play her second consecutive US Women’s Open having missed the cut by three last year in North Carolina.
Annika Sorenstam kept her slims hopes alive with a round of 72 but, seven shots from the lead, she will need something very special tomorrow if she is to win in what could be her final appearance in this event.
The best of the Australians is Katherine Hull, who is in 31st position after a round of 77 today. Hull was unable to recover from a shaky start to her round but at 2 over leads the Australian challenge by one over Karrie Webb. Webb improved today with a round of one under 72, including a stretch in the middle of her round of four birdies in five holes.
Rachel Hetherington may well be still ruing the rain delay yesterday after which she returned to a double bogey and has gone backwards since. She was three under for the tournament and contending before that delay and now stands at five over after a round of 78 today.
Lindsey Wright is also at 5 over after a round of 74, made a little better by two late birdies.
