By Erica Goodman, USGA
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With a 2-over 73 Saturday, Jennifer Song moved ahead of Alexis Thompson as the low amateur. (John Mummert/USGA) |
Bethlehem, Pa. - The lowest round of Saturday was carded by Candie Kung, who finished at 4-under 68. On moving day, she worked her way up the leaderboard and got in contention to walk home with another championship trophy.
“I don’t get ahead of myself,” said Kung. “One shot at a time. Whatever happens, happens.”
The 2001 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion also marked her first birdie of the week on the 559-yard, par-5 sixth hole. Kung finished even in the first round without a fluctuation on her scorecard. After ending 6-over 77 on Friday, the first birdie was a welcomed change.
“I went 22 holes without anything except pars,” she said. “We were wondering if that could be part of history – the longest tournament without a birdie.”
Kung added four more birdies to her round Saturday. Should the scales continue to tip in her favor, she could be in for a sweet surprise.
The Wind In The Evergreens
With a strong wind blowing in from the southwest on the Old Course, fans held onto to their hats and hoped the rain that was forecast would hold off long enough for play to be finished. It did.
“It’s kind of swirling in all the trees that surround this golf course,” said Morgan Pressel. “Even though you know the main direction of which way the wind is coming from, it’s tough to judge over a lot of shots.”
Despite the elements, Pressel finished with a redemptive 1-under 70 today, bringing her to 5-over 218, tied for 11th.
“[The wind] is blowing in a direction where it’s not necessarily very long but it’s just hard to judge,” said Lorena Ochoa. “You have to be smart out there and put it in a smart place, not try to get too aggressive.”
The breeze was not as friendly to Ochoa, who finished two over for the day.
Luckily for players and spectators alike, the rain didn't start until just before 6 p.m., leaving time for the final putt of the day.
A Strong Finish
Consistency is key for Brittany Lincicome. For many of the players in the field, the third round offered up their best or worst finishes to that point of the week. Yet life was more predictable for the Kraft Nabisco champion.
After carding 1-over 72 in each of the first two rounds, Lincicome came in two over for the day. A change, but only minor. A birdie on No. 18 helped to keep her in range of the leaders and within her comfort zone.
The Young And The Restless
The most recently crowned USGA champion, Jennifer Song, who won the 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links title two weeks ago, moved up the leaderboard with a third-round 73. It pushed her ahead of Alexis Thompson as low amateur.
Her 54-hole total of 219 put her in a tie for 17th with a group that included Paula Creamer, who struggled to a 79. Song, 19, tied for low amateur at the 2007 Women's Open, which current third-round leader Cristie Kerr won.
Also struggling in the third round was 14-year-old Thompson, whose 7-over 78 dropped her down to a 36th-place tie. However, the 2008 U.S. Girls' Junior champion has little to hang her head about. No matter her score, she is still gaining much attention and her own slew of dedicated fans.
“There are a lot of young kids following me,” said Thompson. “It means a lot.”
The final round should be interesting for the teenager. She is paired with two-time Women's Open champion Juli Inkster. At 49, Inkster is the oldest player left in the field. She is also the mother of two daughters, both of them older than Thompson.
Erica Goodman is a third-year fellow with the USGA Grants and Fellowship Program. E-mail her with questions or comments at egoodman@usga.org
