US Women’s Open: Lee leads by three strokes

SOUTHERN PINES, NC — Minjee Lee shot a 67 to take a three-shot lead over Mina Harigae at the US Women’s Open on Saturday.

Lee had five birdies, including four in a row from the ninth hole.

At minus 13, he flirts with the tournament record against par, Juli Inkster’s minus 16 in 1999.

Lee has won seven tournaments, including the Cognizant Founders Cup two weeks ago. He also triumphed last year at the Evian Championship, a major tournament.

Harigae (70) hurt his own cause with bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes.

Bronte Law is in third place at seven under after a 68.

Ranked No. 1 in the world, Jin Young Ko (71), shares fourth place in under six with Anna Nordqvist (72), Xiyu Lin (67), Lydia Ko (66), Hye-Jin Choi (72) and Ingrid Lindblad (71).

LSU amateur golfer Lindblad of Sweden slowed down after birding three times on her first four holes.

Ontario’s Brooke Henderson had 68, five shots better than the day before. She broke into the top 20, posting par after three rounds.

Sherbrooke’s Maude-Aimée Leblanc struggled with a 79, bringing her total to plus-11. She suffered two double bogeys in three holes.