Kaori Yamamoto rallies to snag U.S. Senior Women's Open lead

Japan’s Kaori Yamamoto strung together five birdies in 10 holes and grabbed the first-round lead at the sixth USGA Senior Women’s Open on Thursday at Fox Chapel Golf Club.

She shot a 4-under-par 67 and credited a hot putter to her success during the afternoon session.

Yamamoto’s run began on the seventh hole after the only bogey of her round on the sixth hole.

“My shots were good and also bad, but I had a lot of lucky bounces, but my putting was very good,” Yamamoto said. “I hit it pretty close on No. 7, and I putted well.”

She also birdied Nos. 8, 10, 14 and 16, but the birdie on No. 14 was the best.

“I hit my tee shot in the fairway bunker, and I had been struggling with my fairway bunker shots for a couple years now,” Yamamoto said. “But I hit a great shot out of it (114 yards), and it got in close.

“I am definitely having fun, but I’ve never played anything like this. I have been dreaming of playing in this tournament ever since it started and ever since I started playing as a senior in Japan. So it would be just a dream come true.”

There are two players tied for second: Krista Johnson and Lisa Grimes. They played in the morning rounds. Both are looking for their first title in the six years of the tournament.

Each shot a 3-under 68 under ideal conditions. Despite more than three inches of rain Tuesday, the course dried out for the players.

“The course changed a lot” Johnson said. “Not so much as the round went along, but between yesterday and today it changed quite a bit, and between Monday and today. It seemed like a faster course than it was Monday.

“I played real steady. I hit a lot of greens, and I got it close — I even got it on the right side of the hole two times, and those were maybe easier putts, and then I made a couple other putts that I wasn’t expecting, so it was nice.”

One of those putts was on No. 11 when she sank a 24-footer for birdie. Another big save came on her final hole (No. 8) of the round when she sank a 12-footer to save par.

She finished with four birdies and one bogey.

Grimes followed her in minutes later. She had three birdies (Nos. 6, 7, and 18).

“Well, it was pretty solid for the most part,” Grimes said. “I had a bogey-free round, and I don’t have that very often. That’s something I like to remember.

“I was kind of nervous the last few holes thinking, man, not so much about my score as no bogeys on this course, which is kind of a feat in itself.”

In fourth place is Leta Lindley, who shot a 2-under 69. Mikino Kubo and Corina Kelepouris were tied for fifth at 1-over 70.

2021 champion Annika Sorenstam is tied for seventh three shots back.

Sorenstam was disappointed with her round. She bogeyed her final hole, No. 8. She also had three birdies (Nos. 1, 2 and 7) and two other bogeys (Nos. 6 and 8).

“I felt really good the first two days here, and today I was tentative,” Sorenstam said. “I didn’t release the club. It was very cautious golf. There is a fine line of being aggressive and being patient and having a strategy, and I didn’t have the courage.”

Despite the round, Sorenstam feels she’s in a good spot.

“If this is my worse round of the weekend, I’ll take it,” Sorenstam said. “I love the course, and I have it in me to win.”