Skip to content

Ariya Jutanugarn leads Women's British Open at Woburn

Ariya Jutanugarn has been playing some great golf at Woburn
Image: Ariya Jutanugarn has been playing some great golf at Woburn

Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand will take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Ricoh Women's British Open after shooting a third round of 66 at Woburn.

That took Jutanugarn to an impressive 16-under-par total for the tournament and she is two shots clear of Korea's Mirim Lee (69), with Mo Martin of the USA three shots further back after also carding a 69.

Scotland's Catrion Matthew is all alone in fourth after going round in 71 to reach 10-under and Irish amateur Leona Maguire is 10th at seven-under after a fine round of 68.

But England's Charley Hull dropped back through the field after a three-over 75 and she is in a tie for 40th place at two-under.

Mirim Lee remains in the thick of the action, just two shots off the pace
Image: Mirim Lee remains in the thick of the action, just two shots off the pace

Mirim Lee led after the first two rounds but was overhauled on Saturday by the on-song Jutanurgarn, who is closing in on the record score at a British Open of 19-under-par.

The 20-year-old made four birdies during an impressive outward nine of 32 and picked up two further shots on the way home as she extended her bogey-free run to 33 holes.

Jutanugarn blew a great chance to win her first major earlier in the season at the ANA Inspiration when she bogeyed the last three holes to miss out, after leading by two with three holes left.

Also See:

However, she bounced back by winning three times in four weeks on the LPGA Tour in May and has now given herself a great chance to claim Open glory.

Matthew, the 2009 champion, looked all set to storm into contention when she birdied three of the first four holes but she endured a birdie drought after that and bogeyed 14 and 15 to leave herself with lots to do.

She is a shot clear of the 2013 champ Stacy Lewis (70) of America, who is fifth at nine-under-par.

Charley Hull had to endure a frustrating third round
Image: Charley Hull had to endure a frustrating third round

Hull began the day at five-under but began with a triple-bogey at the opening par four and could only match two birdies with two bogeys the rest of the way.

Around Sky