By: Max Bechtoldt
Kaori Yamamoto of Japan has taken the one stroke lead at the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, shooting a -4 67 at Fox Chapel Golf Club near Pittsburgh.
Yamamoto, one of the youngest players in the field, made three birdies on the backside with no bogeys. For the round she hit 25 greens of regulation, almost 20% better than the field average. Once she was on the green, it only got better for Yamamoto, as she was third in the field in putting with 28.
Behind Yamamoto are Americans Christa Johnson and Lisa Grimes, who each shot -3 in the morning to grab the lead at the time. They will have the hotter afternoon conditions Friday.
Annika Sörenstam and Juli Inkster are both hovering, four and five back respectively. Sörenstam currently sits in a tie for seventh place.
The story of the day for many was 85-year-old JoAnne Carner, shooting her age for the seventh time in her career, despite the hot and humid conditions.
The U.S. Senior Women’s Open continues Friday, before getting TV coverage for Saturday’s final round on Golf Channel.
