Amateur Lindblad near top
She’s within 1 of 1st-round leader Harigae at U.S. Open
Ingrid Lindblad decided months ago that she wanted to stay in college instead of turning professional.
That might be a financial decision she comes to regret.
The 22-year-old Swede shot the lowest round by an amateur in the 77-year history of the U.S. Women’s Open, a 6-under 65 that left her a shot behind first-round leader Mina Harigae on Thursday.
Because she’s an amateur, Lindblad wouldn’t be able to collect the record $1.8 million first-place prize if she wins. She would have had to declare as a professional before the tournament began.
When asked if, in hindsight, that was a mistake, the LSU junior known to her friends as “Iggy” paused and said with a smile, “I’m going to stay in college for like another year or so.
“But when you say it, yeah … it would have been fun to win a little bit of money,” she said.
She has 54 holes to navigate, but Lindblad has a chance to become only the second amateur to win the U.S. Women’s Open. The other was Catherine Lacoste in 1967.
Lindblad didn’t seem overwhelmed at the opportunity.
“Yeah, it’s possible,” she said. Three amateurs had previously shot 66 — Carol Semple Thompson in 1994, Brittany Lincicome in 2004 and Gina Kim in 2019.
Lindblad tied for 30th at 6-over 292 in her only other U.S. Women’s Open appearance in 2020.
Three-time major winner Anna Nordqvist, also from Sweden, and 2021 Evian Championship champion Minjee Lee of Australia were at 67 with American Ryann O’toole.
PGA: Just being at the Memorial was a reminder of how far Cameron Young has come in the last year. Being part of a six-way tie for the lead was another reminder of how well he is playing. In his first start since challenging at the PGA Championship, Young finished with two birdies over his last three holes for a 5-under 67 on rain-softened Muirfield Village. Joining Young were Luke List, Cameron Smith, K.H. Lee, Mackenzie Hughes and Davis Riley.
DP World Tour: Li Haotong and Joakim Lagergren both shot a 5-under 67 to share the lead at the European Open.