LANCASTER, Pennsylvania — Wichanee Meechai has a share of the lead and every reason to feel out of place at a US Women’s Open that is crowded at the top. Meechai typically is full of doubt and low on confidence, an example of the 31-year-old Thai being honest to a fault. She’s not entirely sure if the rental home where she is staying alone has a ghost, but she thinks they can get along if it does.
And then there was that dream at 3 a.m. Saturday that she forgot to sign her scorecard.
“I dream about the US Open. I think it’s in my mind, very deep in there,” Meechai said. “I don’t think I can get rid of it.
I’m just trying to get along with it.” All the while, Meechai has been playing like she’s been here all along. She delivered two big pars late Saturday afternoon for a 1-under 69, giving her a share of the lead with two-time major champion Minjee Lee (66) and Stanford alum Andrea Lee (67).
Minjee Lee took advantage of one of the forward tees by hitting 6-iron to tap-in range for eagle on the par-5 seventh hole that got her right into the mix, and she stayed there with a few other key shots along the way to match the low score of the championship. Andrea Lee played bogey-free on the back nine with back-to-back birdies that got her into the final group. Former British Open champion Hinako Shibuno had seven birdies for a 66 and was two behind.
Another shot back was Yuka Saso, who saved shots with her putter and one sublime flop shot over a bunker to a tigh.