Kaori Yamamoto retains lead after weather delayed round at U.S. Senior Women's Open

After a long, weather-delayed third round at the U.S. Women’s Senior Open on Saturday at Fox Chapel Golf Club, Kaori Yamamoto held on to her lead after shooting 1-over-par.

She will be in last pairing Sunday for the final round, leading the field at 7-under.

Four others are chasing Yamamoto at 2-under for the tournament: Mikino Kubo, Annika Sorenstam, Leta Lindley and Juli Inkster.

Even after a three-hour rain delay, Yamamoto remained focused.

“I just tried to keep the same game plan and the same routine as well,” Yamamoto said.

One of her best shots came on the 12th hole, when she put her second shot right next to the pin.

“My second shot was a super shot, and during the swing I was just trying to make sure that the swing was short but firm, and it went just as I imagined that it would,” Yamamoto said.

Sorenstam, a World Golf Hall of Famer who won the U.S. Senior Women’s Open in 2021, finished her day at even-par 71 and was optimistic about her chances.

“I would say overall I’m very pleased to end like that with a lot of beautiful drives and a lot of beautiful iron shots. I definitely had a lot of looks today,” Sorenstam said.

Sorenstam added that she has only missed five greens in the first three days of the tournament. One of the most successful golfers in history has been surrounded by family this week, including her husband and caddie, Mike McGee.

“You know this is a team effort, and I’ve said it all along that this is about family, and it’s really neat to play in front of them (Mike’s family), and I just want to make the birdies to make them think it was worth the drive,” Sorenstam said.

McGee is a native of East Palestine, Ohio, on the border between Pennsylvania and Ohio.

One of the late surprises of the tournament in Round 3 was the resurgence of Kubo of Japan.

After the rain delay, much like many of her other competitors, Kubo was not particularly sharp on the wet greens, resulting in two bogeys on the front nine.

Her good fortune returned in the nick of time, however, as she sunk three straight birdie putts on the final three holes to stay to move into contention.

Lindley finished with a birdie on the 18th hole after an up-and-down start to her round. It was the first eight holes, however, on the back nine that were her most challenging.

“I know there was a sizeable putt on 11 and then again on holes 13 and 15,” Lindley said. “I was just grinding out there, and it was nice to see those par putts go in, but I want to see more putts go in for birdie tomorrow.”

Inkster finished with an even par 71 after two birdies and two bogeys to finish out the round.

Getting on the green wasn’t necessarily the issue for Inkster.

“I mean I was having trouble just getting the ball in the hole,” she said. “I thought my speed was really good today but I just had trouble reading the greens.”

That sentiment was common for golfers Saturday, as the greens got softer after the long rain delay. Sunday is shaping up to be a better day weather-wise after a challenging week of rain that has resulted in six hours of rain delays through the first three rounds.

Play is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Sunday. The final three groups of leaders will tee off starting just after 12:33 p.m.