YVINS, Utah – Harlan Liu and Aliya Jutanugaan waste no time from the disappointment of the first LPGA major behind them.
Ryu missed just one fairway and one green, filming 27 putts in the 9-under 63 round, and retreating to Utah for the first time in over 60 years, leading Jutanoughan and Weiling HSU one shot.
Ryu shared a 54-hole lead at the Chevron Championship last week, but she shot 76 even with Eagle in the final hole and missed the playoffs with two shots.
“Last week was a tough golf course and this week was tough so I’ve not changed anything at all,” Ryu said. “I’m just thinking more about the accuracy of my shots, and I think it’s the same as last week.”
Jutanugarn finished roughly at the Chevron Championship. She needed a par in the final hole to win, but she ended up thrustling the chip behind Green and making a bogey. She then stopped a 7-foot birdie putt in the five-player playoffs when Mao Saigo won.
“Last week, I didn’t finish the way I wanted it to, but it’s a lot going on like a good thing — and I want to continue and continue working as hard as I can,” said Jutanugarn, a former No. 1 player who went for four years without winning.
Saigo was steady by having two or more holes on Thursday, playing bogey-free with four birdies and saving 70 with black dessert. This is the only golf course that hosts official PGA Tours and LPGA Tour events.
Lucy Lee birded her last two holes at 64, part of the fourth six-way tie, including Carlota Shiganda. Celine Boutier was one of the 65-year-old group.
The scoring was low with many winds and relatively soft conditions, with nearly 60% of the 144 player field breaker surrounded by percentages.