By Newspot Nigeria Sports Desk
As the sun sets on a dramatic Moving Day at Erin Hills, all eyes turn to Sunday’s final round of the 80th U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally, where Sweden’s Maja Stark will tee off last with a razor-thin one-shot lead. Her 2-under 70 on Saturday, marked by smart strategy and steady nerves, positioned her at the top of the board at 7-under-par 209.
Stark, 25, who played collegiate golf at Oklahoma State and has seven professional titles to her name, will face off in the final pairing against Julia Lopez Ramirez, a sensational U.S. Women’s Open rookie from Spain sitting at -6. Lopez Ramirez posted the best round of the day—a 68—powered by long drives and precision putting. The pair is scheduled to tee off at 1:10 PM CDT on Sunday.
🎯 Leaderboard Highlights After Round 3:
- 🥇 Maja Stark –7 (F)
- 🥈 Julia Lopez Ramirez –6 (F)
- T3 Rio Takeda, Hinako Shibuno, Mao Saigo –5 (F)
- 6th Nelly Korda –4 (F)
- T7 Minjee Lee, Linn Grant, Sarah Schmelzel –3 (F)
One of the most anticipated matchups of the final round will be between Nelly Korda and Mao Saigo, who tee off together at 12:48 PM CDT. Korda recovered from a poor start in Round 3 with a stunning back-nine 33, while Saigo, the 36-hole leader, stumbled to a 75 but remains just two strokes off the lead.
With 11 players within five shots of the lead, including former champions and rising stars, Sunday is set for fireworks on the challenging Wisconsin layout.
💥 Round 4 Featured Final Pairings (All Times CDT):
- 12:48 PM – Nelly Korda / Mao Saigo
- 12:59 PM – Hinako Shibuno / Rio Takeda
- 1:10 PM – Julia Lopez Ramirez / Maja Stark
🎓 Among the amateurs, 16-year-old Rayee Feng leads at +1, one stroke ahead of world No. 1 Lottie Woad. Feng tees off alongside Lydia Ko at 10:47 AM CDT, highlighting the youth presence at the highest stage.
🌬️ Saturday’s toughest stretch included Holes 3 through 6, with the brutal 260-yard par-4 15th playing to an average of 4.47. Angel Yin showed just how quickly fortunes can change—following an eagle at 14 with a triple bogey at 15.
With eighteen nations represented among the 60 players who made the cut, the final round promises a truly global battle for the crown. Sunday’s test at Erin Hills will be a mental and physical gauntlet—one where calm and courage will determine who hoists the trophy.
📣 For live updates, leaderboard coverage, and final highlights, stay tuned with Newspot Nigeria—your trusted window into the world of sports.
