Yealimi Noh Fires 69 to Lead Women's British Open by Three Over Haeran Ryu

Yealimi Noh holds a three-stroke lead at 7-under 206 heading into Sunday at Royal Lytham & St. Annes after carding four birdies in her final 10 holes.

Yealimi Noh carded a 2-under 69 on Saturday at Royal Lytham & St. Annes to take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Women's British Open. The 25-year-old Californian reached a 54-hole total of 7-under 206, moving past a group of five players tied at 4-under 209. Noh secured her position by playing bogey-free golf on the back nine, highlighted by a three-birdie stretch that began on the par-3 ninth hole and included a 12-foot birdie putt on the 10th.

Haeran Ryu, who entered the day seeking to become the first player since Inbee Park to win three consecutive majors in a single calendar year, sits three strokes back after a 2-over 74. Ryu initially built a four-shot lead with two birdies on the front nine before suffering five bogeys across an eight-hole span. Her slide started on the par-5 seventh and included a save on the 10th hole, where she chipped forward from the back lip of a pot bunker to limit the damage to a bogey. Ryu, the winner of this year's Women's PGA Championship and Evian Championship, finished her round with four consecutive pars.

Chasing Pack at Royal Lytham

Joining Ryu at 4-under 209 are four other contenders. Esther Henseleit of Germany posted the low round among the leaders with a 5-under 67, while Lucy Li signed for a 69. Shiho Kuwaki of Japan finished at 209 following a 72, missing a 10-foot birdie opportunity on the 18th that would have placed her in the final pairing. Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand also sits at 4-under after recording nine straight pars to close out a round of 72.

Noh enters Sunday ranked No. 69 in the women’s world ranking and No. 95 in the Race to CME Globe. Her only previous major contention occurred at the 2021 Evian Championship, where she missed a playoff by a single stroke. Before arriving in Lancashire, Noh had missed three consecutive cuts and had not recorded a top-10 finish since October. She opted to skip the Women's Scottish Open last week to practice at Sahalee near Seattle with her fiancé.

Korda Struggles on the Coast

World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who won the first two majors of the season, fell eight shots off the pace after a 1-over 73. Korda’s round was hampered by two double bogeys, including one on the par-4 18th hole. She currently sits at 1-over par for the tournament.

The weather conditions on the Lancashire coast remained sunny on Saturday, though Ryu noted that her ball flight was higher than during the first two rounds. Forecasts for the final round suggest wind speeds will remain consistent with Saturday's conditions. Noh credited her recent reset at home for her current mindset, noting that her practice session at the tree-lined Sahalee helped her focus on avoiding the numerous bunkers at Royal Lytham.

Final Round Implications

None of the players tied for second place have won a major championship. Henseleit previously earned an Olympic silver medal in France two years ago, and Li gained recognition in 2014 for qualifying for the U.S. Women's Open at age 11. Thitikul remains one of only two golfers to reach world No. 1 without a major title to her name. Noh, who possesses one career LPGA title, will attempt to maintain her three-shot cushion as she seeks her first major victory on the firm links course.