Miyu Yamashita takes slim lead into final round at Women’s Open

Miyu Yamashita of Japan reacts as she holes a par putt on the 17th green during the third round of the Women’s British Open golf championship, at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Porthcawl, Wales, Saturday. (AP)
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Updated 03 August 2025
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Miyu Yamashita takes slim lead into final round at Women’s Open

  • Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday’s final round
  • A Lim Kim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round after a nine-hole stretch when she compiled four birdies

PORTHCAWL, Wales: Miyu Yamashita of Japan maintained her lead through three rounds of the AIG Women’s Open despite stumbling to a 2-over par 74 on Saturday at Porthcawl, Wales.

After holding a three-shot lead through the midway point of the tournament, Yamashita was at 9-under par through three rounds as her advantage was narrowed to a single shot heading into Sunday’s final round.

“I think one of the main things is not missing in the wrong spots,” said Yamashita, whose best finish in a major was a tie for second at the 2024 Women’s PGA Championship. “Because I’m able to do that, that means I don’t put myself in awkward positions and helps me not make those bogeys which can cost you so much at these championships.”

A Lim Kim moved into second place at 8 under after a 5-under par 67 in the third round after a nine-hole stretch when she compiled four birdies. Andrea Lee of the United States also shot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and was alone in third place at 7 under.

“So honestly I’m not focused on the leader,” Kim said. “I focus on my process and my shot and then my position. That’s all.”

A group of four tied for fourth place at 6 under included Japan’s Minami Katsu and Rio Takeda, England’s Charley Hull and American Megan Khang.

Yamashita breezed to a 7-under par 65 in the second round to move into the lead but struggled to find that form Saturday. She was 1 over on the front nine with a bogey and eight pars. She was 1 over again on an eventful back nine that included three bogeys and two birdies.

Yamashita was even par for the round through 13 holes until she recorded a pair of bogey 5s at No. 14 and 16.

“I’ll be just looking at what went wrong and what went right and analyzing the day and make the improvements that hopefully will lead to a better round (Sunday),” Yamashita said.

Yamashita and Takeda, who was alone in second place through two rounds, were the only members of the top 10 on the leaderboard to shoot over par Saturday. Takeda, who was Yamashita’s playing partner, also was 2 over.

Katsu had the low round of the day at 7-under 65 to put herself into contention by moving up 31 spots on the leaderboard. She got off to a slow start with a pair of bogeys on the first two holes before going on a red-hot run.

Starting with a birdie 3 at No. 4, Katsu was 9 under over her final 15 holes in a stretch that included an eagle 3 at No. 6.

“Made two bogeys on the first three holes, but after that I was really focused on my swing,” Katsu said. “I just had a really good image of my swing, and I kept that going, and here I am.”

World No. 1 Nelly Korda stumbled to a 2-under 74 on Saturday to leave her at even par for the tournament in a tie for 36th place.

England’s Lottie Woad, who turned pro last week then won the Women’s Scottish Open, shot a 1-under 71 and is at 3 under for the weekend to sit in a seven- way tie for 11th place.

Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot a 2-under 70 and was tied for 36th at even par.


Stokes calls on England to ‘show a bit of dog’ in must-win Adelaide Test

Updated 16 December 2025
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Stokes calls on England to ‘show a bit of dog’ in must-win Adelaide Test

ADELAIDE: Ben Stokes has called on England to “show a bit of dog” in the must-win third Ashes Test against Australia on Wednesday after “raw” conversations following heavy defeats in Perth and Brisbane.
The tourists have crashed to consecutive eight-wicket losses and must snap a 17-match winless streak in Australia at Adelaide Oval to keep the five-match series alive.
They have made just one change with Josh Tongue replacing fellow quick Gus Atkinson, while off-spinning allrounder Will Jacks kept his place ahead of Shoaib Bashir.
England skipper Stokes said after the Gabba defeat that Australia was “no place for weak men” and admitted to “raw” dressing room conversations in the aftermath.
“We don’t do getting into rooms and have big things up on the screen. We have proper, meaningful conversations. What’s been said has been said,” he told English media.
“I’ve done all the talking over the last two days that I needed to. All that stuff’s done now, so it’s about what gets seen out on the field in Adelaide this week.”
Stokes was called “the most competitive person I’ve ever come across” by former England captain Alastair Cook last week and the 34-year-old allrounder demanded more fight from his team.
“It’s just about trying to fight in every situation that you find yourself in, understanding the situation and what you feel is required for your team,” said Stokes.
“Just look at your opposition every single time and show a bit of dog. That’s fight to me. You’re giving yourself the best possible chance if you’ve got a bit of dog in you.”
He cited England’s battling third Test win against India at Lord’s in July as an example of the grit he wanted to see in Adelaide, with the hosts winning by 22 runs deep into day five after a time-wasting row.
“That’s exactly what I’m on about,” he said.
“We were probably in a situation where we would have to be absolutely perfect to win that game and we were.
“The attitude and the mentality toward that specific situation is what gave us the best chance of winning that game.”
Since arriving in Australia, England have been under intense media scrutiny and faced hostile crowds at Perth and Brisbane.
Just five of the players used so far had previously played an Ashes series in Australia and Stokes acknowledged it had been confronting for the newcomers.
“Honestly, I think so,” he said. “Now I feel everyone has experienced that and probably at its highest level, so we all know what it’s going to be like.
“So for the next three games there isn’t going to be any of that ‘I didn’t expect this’ or ‘it’s the first time I’ve had this’.”