Former Duke teammates Boutier, Yu Liu tied at Open

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former Duke championship teammates Yu Liu of China and Celine Boutier of France were tied for the lead after three rounds of the U.S. Women’s Open.

Liu had a 5-under-par 66 to match Boutier at 7 under at the Country Club of Charleston. Boutier shot 69.

The pair of Blue Devils, good friends and starters on the 2014 NCAA championship team, were a stroke in front of Lexi Thompson, Jaye Marie Green and Japan’s Mamiko Higa, the surprise leader through the first two rounds.

Boutier held the lead at 8 under until she made her only bogey of the round on No. 16 after stubbing a chip and needing a 21-footer to limit the damage. She won the Vic Open in February in Australia for her first LPGA Tour title.

Liu, competing in her first U.S. Women’s Open, made six birdies in a 13hole stretch to move up after starting four shots off the lead. She’s winless on the tour.

Thompson powered her way into contention, going eagle-birdie on the 15th and 16th holes for a 68.

Green shot 68, her second sub-70 showing this week, after entering with just one round in the 60s in five Open appearances.

Higa had an up-anddown round of three birdies and three bogeys to lose the lead she’s held much of the week. She finished with her second straight 71.

Boutier had a 25-foot birdie try on the final hole, but went a foot or so past and finished with par to close a long day on the course.

Boutier was among 45 players who couldn’t finish the second round Friday because of a weather delay and had to return before sunrise to complete four holes before turning her focus to the third round.

Liu had six birdies the rest of the way and will play the final group today with one of her best friends on tour.

“We probably won’t talk much,” she said with a laugh.

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