South Korea’s Amy Yang fired a two-under-par 68 on Saturday to seize a share of the third-round lead at the US Open alongside American Michelle Wie.
Wie, who held a three-shot overnight lead, fought to a two-over 72 at Pinehurst to join Yang on two-under 208.
They were the only players under par through 54 holes at Pinehurst, where Germany’s Martin Kaymer won the second men’s major of the year, the US Open, last Sunday.
US veteran Juli Inkster, who celebrates her 54th birthday on Tuesday, carded the low round of the day, a four-under 66, to lead a group sharing third on two-over 212.
Inkster was joined by Australian amateur Minjee Lee, South Korean Choi Na-Yeon and Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow.
Meadow, playing her first event as a professional, inched up the leaderboard with a one-under 69, while Choi signed for a 71 and Lee posted a 72.
Australia’s Karrie Webb, who won the US Open at Pine Needles in 2001, had an even-par round to be one stroke behind Lee at three-over in a tie for seventh.
“Michelle Wie has put a few of us back into the tournament,” Webb said.
“Two hours ago, I didn’t think I had a shot. I’m pretty happy about that.”
Wie shook off a bogey at the first with birdies at the third, ninth and 10th holes.
But she opened the door to Yang with a rough four-hole stretch that started with a double-bogey at the par-four 11th.
She followed that with a bogey at 12, and dropped another shot at 14 as Yang briefly seized the outright lead.
“I just didn’t drive it well a couple of holes – you really can’t be in the trees here,” Wie said.
“I felt like I grinded out there (made a) couple of good par putts coming in. Overall, I can’t complain.”
This is the third time that Wie will enter the last day of the US Women’s Open either owning or sharing the lead.
In the other two instances, in 2005 and 2006, she finished tied for 23rd and tied for third.
Yang’s round included six birdies. She closed with her fourth bogey of the day at 18, but was satisfied with her day.
“I was hitting the ball really solid today, and I had good speed on the greens,” Yang said.
