Archive August 2, 2025

Third-round leaderboard for the AIG Women’s Open 2025

-9 Yamashita (Jpn), -8 AL Kim (Kor), -7 A Lee (US)

others were screened.

-6 Hull (Eng), Katsu (Jpn), Khang (US), Takeda (Jpn), -4 Hall (Eng), -3 Rhodes (Eng), Woad (Eng), -2 M Lee (Aus), E Harry (Wal), Ko (NZ), Korda (US)

Before Sunday’s Women’s Open finale at Royal Porthcawl, England’s Charley Hull shot a stunning six-under-par 66 to lie three shots clear of Miyu Yamashita.

By the third round’s halfway point, Yamashita’s three-shot lead had been squandered due to her two-over 74.

After both of their Saturday carded rounds of 67, South Korean A Lim Kim is second on eight under while American Andrea Lee is a shot further back in third.

After two rounds, Yamashita was three shots clear of a group in third place as she celebrated her 24th birthday on Saturday.

Although a large portion of the chasing pack attempted to put pressure on themselves before the Japanese duo teed off, the final group shot low themselves, which would have rendered the effort pointless.

However, they only managed one birdie in the first ten holes, and Yamashita’s lead was shortened by one stroke when she bogeyed the 10th.

The cushion was saved by subsequent birdies at the 11th and 12th, but Yamashita dropped two more shots heading home and it took a fantastic long-range putt to par on the 17th to ensure she would continue to lead the tournament as a solo player into the final round.

Hull hasn’t yet won one of her sport’s biggest prizes, despite having won several close calls at previous majors.

After a solitary bogey at the 14th hole, she made four pars to finish with a round of 66, which is Hull’s joint-lowest round at a Women’s Open.

The 2023 Women’s Open runner-up said, “I hit it in the bunker on the first and did a good up-and-down there.” Besides the final hole, I just made birdies when I had the chance to make one.

Three more English players are in the lead before the final round is even six shots away.

Georgia Hall, the 2018 Women’s Open champion, rose another player’s way up the leaderboard as a result of a quick start.

Hall also carded a four-under 68 at the 14th, and she followed that up with another bogey at the 15th.

She said, “Of course, I’m very happy with my round, but I think I let some things go at the end.”

It could use some improvement, I believe. We’ll see what happens and where I am if I can start tomorrow, as I did today.

Following rounds of 71 and 70, respectively, Lottie Woad and Mimi Rhodes are both three under for the championship and just outside the top 10.

Marlie Packer smiled as she returned to the dressing room at home with her young son leading the charge, her new fiancee by her side, and the evening sun on her back.

However, it might not have been as broad as it could have been.

Packer was present throughout England’s 97-7 victory over Spain for an hour. striking lines and avoiding opponents, cantering in the open, and pounding the hardest in the tight.

Head coach John Mitchell praised her performance as “outstanding” and added, “She plays the game like a fire when you see her play it that way.”

On the day of the game, Packer had stated that this game had a significant impact.

Not necessarily the stage or the opponents, either.

In front of more crowds than the 5, 286 who took one stand at Welford Road, England will face stronger opponents than Spain, which has lost.

However, one of only four survivors from England’s success at the 2014 tournament, Emily Scarratt, Alex Matthews, and Natasha Hunt, was in awe of being given the captaincy, albeit for one afternoon in Zoe Aldcroft’s absence, on the verge of a home World Cup.

Packer’s afternoon was spelled with a clumsy clearout by Claudia Pena, which was not malicious.

Other back-row contenders for the World Cup starting XV can put a distance between themselves and Packer if she is suspended, which a panel will convene and decide in the coming days.

You can tell Marlie’s intentions weren’t there, Mitchell said, regrettably.

We’ll take whatever we can get on the chin and move on, according to the game, “Unfortunately the game sets high standards in that area,” and I suppose we’ll end up trying to protect players.

Number eight Maddie Feaunati, an X-factor runner of raw pace and power, had another impressive performance, dispersing Spain’s defenders occasionally like skittles.

The third row’s starting back row member, Abi Burton, remained obscure despite the enormous amount of unwatched work.

Aldcroft is a certain starter, who is also on the squad. Alex Matthews is a top choice for Mitchell because of her unwavering quality and enormous engine.

With significantly more miles on the clock and a different game in mind, Packer is unable to match Sadia Kabeya’s fetching ability.

Spain is the best country in Europe outside of the Six Nations. However, they are still a few streets away from England, who are the dominant force in the world.

Mitchell was more concerned with the performance and fitness of his squad than the match’s outcome when facing such weak opponents.

Zoe Harrison, who suffered a first-half knee injury, frightened him, but she recovered to pull strings and pick passes pass pass wisely at 10 a.

Even if Megan Jones’ partnership with Jade Shekells didn’t quite work out as planned, she still managed to make a powerful impact in midfield.

Before it becomes clear whether a hat-trick will make her England’s backline home, the versatile Helena Rowland will have to face more stern opposition.

As she took her try, Jess Breach’s top-end pace, which she would have over Rowland, was clearly evident on the other side of the pitch, but there were also errors.

Sarah Bern, the prop, exceled in second row, Abbie Ward, and full-back Emma Sing grew into the game, zipping over for a touchdown and kicking superbly for the posts after Harrison had left.

Mitchell has plenty of room to reflect as he travels across the Channel for England’s upcoming second warm-up game against France.