Sunday 2 June 2019 08:03, UK
Celine Boutier and Yu Liu hold a share of the lead heading into the final round of the US Women’s Open, with Lexi Thompson part of the chasing pack.
The former university team-mates lead the chase for the first $1m winner's prize in women's golf, with Liu firing a joint-low round-of-the-day 66 and Boutier posting a two-under 69.
The pair sit on seven under and a shot clear on a bunched leaderboard at the Country Club of Charleston, where Thompson sits tied-third alongside Jaye Marie Green and overnight leader Mamiko Higa.
"I think this is something that's really out of my expectations because it's only my first ever U.S. Open," Liu said. "I was just happy to make the cut and being able to play the weekend."
Liu recovered from an early bogey to post six birdies in her round, while Boutier held the outright lead until she duffed a chip at the 16th and holed a clutch 20-foot to leave with just a bogey.
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Thompson took advantage of both par-fives on the front nine but fell four behind after starting her back nine with successive bogeys, only to eagle the par-five 15th and birdie the next on her way to a 68.
Charley Hull moved inside the top 20 after a successive 70 in as many days, with Jodi Ewart Shadoff bottom of those who made it through to the weekend after bogeying the last three holes of her third-round 78.
Andrea Lee was handed a one-shot penalty for slow play during the round, on a day where the general pace of play was slow, seeing the amateur finish with a seven-over 79.
Watch the final round of the US Women's Open on Sunday from 7pm via the red button on Sky Sports Golf, Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports Main Event.
