AMERICAN MINA HARIGAE fired a stunning seven-under-par 64 to seize a one-stroke lead over shock Swedish amateur Ingrid Lindblad after Thursday’s opening round of the 77th US Women’s Open.

Ireland’s Leona Maguire sits one-under-par following an opening round 70 which included four birdies and three bogeys, with Stephanie Meadow hitting three birdies and four bogeys to finish two shots back on one over.

Harigae made nine birdies against two bogeys to finish one off the tournament record after Lindblad led much of the day at Pine Needles in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

“I was confident that as long as I could hit it where I needed to then it would be a pretty good day,” Harigae said. “But I didn’t think it would be this good of a day.”

The 32-year-old American, whose parents are from Japan, was one off the US Women’s Open 18-hole record of 63 by Helen Alfredsson from 1994.

Lindblad, a 22-year-old standout for Louisiana State University, shot the lowest score by an amateur in tournament history. She needed only 26 putts.

“I hit a few shots close to the pin, and then my putting was great,” she said. “Made a few par saves and made a few putts for birdies. It just worked from fairway to green.”

Their rounds marked the first time since 1999 that two players had shot 65 or better in the major showdown, known for its harsh rough and lightning-fast greens.

Australian Minjee Lee, last month’s LPGA Founders Cup winner, shared third on 67 with American Ryann O’Toole and Sweden’s Anna Nordqvist.

Harigae, who has never won an LPGA title, had her best major finishes, a share of 13th, at last year’s Women’s British Open and the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship.

“I’m just going to do the same thing as today, one shot at a time,” Harigae said of her early Friday start in round two with the lead. “Try to hit as many greens as I can because I’m really confident with my putting right now.”

Harigae opened with back-to-back birdies, added two more at the fourth and sixth holes and closed the front nine with another birdie, defying the tricky Pine Needles greens.

“You have to hit it in the right spots because if you don’t the greens are kind of turtle back so you get to roll off,” Harigae said.

After a bogey at the par-5 10th, Harigae answered with back-to-back birdies at the 12th and par-3 13th, then followed a bogey at 14 with birdies at the par-5 15th and a chip-in birdie at the par-3 16th to swipe the lead.

“I was trying to think, ‘Just make good contact,’” she said. “I never chip in in tournaments so I was super excited that even happened.”

She closed with two pars, the last on a clutch six-foot putt, to stay on top.

World amateur number two Lindblad, who won four of her first five college events this year, can’t claim the record $1.8 million top prize from a $10 million purse, the largest in women’s golf history.

“It would have been fun to win a little bit of money, but I’m going to stay in college for a little bit more,” Lindblad said.

The only amateur player to ever win the US Women’s Open was France’s Catherine Lacoste in 1967.

“They said just one amateur has won it,” Lindblad said. “Yeah, it’s possible.”

Lindblad was thrilled to play alongside her childhood idol, 51-year-old Swedish legend Annika Sorenstam.

“It was really cool. We had fun out there,” Lindblad said. “She fist pumped me for a few birdies, and it was fun.”

Sorenstam was delighted with Lindblad’s performance.

“Played so solid. Really good touch and she putted beautifully,” Sorenstam said. “I was really impressed.”

Sorenstam, who won the 1996 US Women’s Open at Pine Needles, won last year’s US Senior Women’s Open to qualify. She opened with a 74.

Nelly Korda, who hadn’t played since February due to a blood clot, returned from a 117-day layoff and fired a 70.

– © AFP 2022

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