Latest news with #BritishOpen
New Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Sweden's Stark grabs one-shot lead at US Women's Open
CHICAGO: Maja Stark fired three birdies in an impressively steady two-under-par 70 at unforgiving Erin Hills on Saturday to seize a one stroke lead over Julia Lopez Ramirez heading into the final round of the 80th US Women's Open. Sweden's Stark, a European Solheim Cup stalwart chasing her first major title, kept her focus in a round that stretched nearly six hours as players wrestled with firm, fast greens on a breezy, sunny day in Wisconsin. Her seven-under-par total of 209 put her one stroke clear of Spanish qualifier Lopez Ramirez, whose four-under-par 68 was the best score of a day on which only nine players broke par. Japan's Mai Saigo, who started the day with a three-shot lead, carded a three-over-par 75 to share third alongside compatriots Rio Takeda and Hinako Shibuno on five-under 211. World number one Nelly Korda, who played alongside Saigo in the final group, finished strong in a one-over 73 that left her three adrift on four-under 212. Stark said the very difficulty of the course actually made her less anxious -- a key for her as she tries to kick the habit of "playing scared". "In normal tournaments, I kind of swing scared because I think it's a birdie competition, but here it's really not," Stark said, adding that on Sunday she'll just "try to play freely". Stark opened with a confidence-boosting birdie at the first hole. She bogeyed the third, but stuck her second shot at the 10th two feet from the pin for a birdie. Stark rattled in a 21-foot birdie at the par-three 16th to seize a share of the lead on seven-under, capping her round with a par at the par-five 18th and emerging with the solo lead as Saigo closed with back-to-back bogeys. The tough scoring made Lopez Ramirez's round look all the more impressive. The 22-year-old, who had to pause her LPGA rookie campaign in March after undergoing an appendectomy, eagled the par-five first and bounced back frm a bogey at the third with a birdie at th seventh, where she got up and down from a greenside bunker. She added birdies at 12 and 16 to put herself in contention for a first major title. "It was just mentally a strong day for me, keeping myself present and dealing with what's in front of me," Lopez Ramirez added. Saigo, gunning for a second major title of the season after winning the Chevron Championship in April, was battling even before her bogey-bogey finish. She had two birdies and a bogey in her first three holes then bogeyed the fourth, fifth and sixth -- failing to get up and down after missing the geen at all three. The 23-year-old had regained the solo lead with an eight-foot birdie at the 12th but couldn't hang on. Takeda joined her on five-under with a two-under par 70 highlighted by a six-foot eagle at the first. Former British Open champion Shibuno had two birdies and two bogeys in her even par 72. Korda appeared to be spiraling out of contention with four bogeys on the front nine. That included three-putts at the second and fifth and a five-foot miss at the seventh. But the American star clawed back with birdies at the 14th and 15th -- where she took advantage of the US Golf Association's decision to move up the tee to drive the green and calmly rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt. Her six-foot birdie putt at the 18th circled the cup before falling in, leaving her exactly where she started the day three shots off the lead. "I was happy to kind of rally back on the back nine after having such a poor start," Korda said. "It's all about being patient. There's just so many ups and downs and you just have to kind of stick with it .... it just takes one shot." - AFP
France 24
15 hours ago
- Sport
- France 24
Sweden's Stark grabs one-shot lead at US Women's Open
Sweden's Stark, a European Solheim Cup stalwart chasing her first major title, kept her focus in a round that stretched nearly six hours as players wrestled with firm, fast greens on a breezy, sunny day in Wisconsin. Her seven-under-par total of 209 put her one stroke clear of Spanish qualifier Lopez Ramirez, whose four-under-par 68 was the best score of a day on which only nine players broke par. Japan's Mai Saigo, who started the day with a three-shot lead, carded a three-over-par 75 to share third alongside compatriots Rio Takeda and Hinako Shibuno on five-under 211. World number one Nelly Korda, who played alongside Saigo in the final group, finished strong in a one-over 73 that left her three adrift on four-under 212. Stark said the very difficulty of the course actually made her less anxious -- a key for her as she tries to kick the habit of "playing scared". "In normal tournaments, I kind of swing scared because I think it's a birdie competition, but here it's really not," Stark said, adding that on Sunday she'll just "try to play freely". Stark opened with a confidence-boosting birdie at the first hole. She bogeyed the third, but stuck her second shot at the 10th two feet from the pin for a birdie. Stark rattled in a 21-foot birdie at the par-three 16th to seize a share of the lead on seven-under, capping her round with a par at the par-five 18th and emerging with the solo lead as Saigo closed with back-to-back bogeys. The tough scoring made Lopez Ramirez's round look all the more impressive. The 22-year-old, who had to pause her LPGA rookie campaign in March after undergoing an appendectomy, eagled the par-five first and bounced back frm a bogey at the third with a birdie at th seventh, where she got up and down from a greenside bunker. She added birdies at 12 and 16 to put herself in contention for a first major title. "It was just mentally a strong day for me, keeping myself present and dealing with what's in front of me," Lopez Ramirez added. Saigo, gunning for a second major title of the season after winning the Chevron Championship in April, was battling even before her bogey-bogey finish. She had two birdies and a bogey in her first three holes then bogeyed the fourth, fifth and sixth -- failing to get up and down after missing the geen at all three. Korda rallies The 23-year-old had regained the solo lead with an eight-foot birdie at the 12th but couldn't hang on. Takeda joined her on five-under with a two-under par 70 highlighted by a six-foot eagle at the first. Former British Open champion Shibuno had two birdies and two bogeys in her even par 72. Korda appeared to be spiraling out of contention with four bogeys on the front nine. That included three-putts at the second and fifth and a five-foot miss at the seventh. But the American star clawed back with birdies at the 14th and 15th -- where she took advantage of the US Golf Association's decision to move up the tee to drive the green and calmly rolled in an eight-foot birdie putt. Her six-foot birdie putt at the 18th circled the cup before falling in, leaving her exactly where she started the day three shots off the lead. "I was happy to kind of rally back on the back nine after having such a poor start," Korda said. "It's all about being patient. There's just so many ups and downs and you just have to kind of stick with it .... it just takes one shot." © 2025 AFP
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
World No. 19 Rachel suffers shock British Open defeat
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 19 Rachel Arnold suffered a shock first-round exit at the prestigious British Open in Birmingham on Saturday. Rachel, who won the China Open in November and reached the second round of the British Open last year, was swept aside by Egypt's world No. 38 Kenzy Ayman, losing 11-6, 14-12, 11-5 in just 26 minutes. Compatriots Ng Eain Yow, Aifa Azman and Ainaa Amani will open their campaigns on Sunday, while S. Sivasangari will begin her challenge on Monday.
Barnama
a day ago
- Sport
- Barnama
Rachel Crashes Out Early At British Open 2025
KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- National squash player Rachel Arnold crashed out in the first round of the 2025 British Open after losing 6-11, 12-14, 5-11 to Egypt's Kenzy Ayman in Birmingham today. The Egyptian needed just 26 minutes to send the Malaysian packing. World number 19 Rachel found herself outplayed by world number 38 Kenzy in their first career encounter.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Noor Zaman qualifies for British Open Squash Championship main round
Pakistan's Noor Zaman has qualified for the main draw of the British Open Squash Championship, continuing his strong performance on the professional circuit. The reigning World Under-23 Squash champion secured his place in the prestigious England tournament after defeating Egypt's Kareem El Torkey 11-5, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7 in a 46-minute qualifying final. Result: GillenMarkets British Open 2025 Men's Qualifying Finals 🇵🇰 Noor Zaman beats [3] Kareem El Torkey 🇪🇬 3-1: 11-5, 11-8, 3-11, 11-7 (46m)#BritishOpen — British Open (@BritOpenSquash) May 29, 2025 Earlier, Zaman defeated England's Will Salter 3-1 (10-12, 11-2, 11-5, 11-3) in 42 minutes, followed by a thrilling 3-1 victory over Adrian Waller (9-11, 11-6, 11-7, 14-12) in a 59-minute match. Zaman, seeded 10th in the qualifiers, is the first Pakistani player to reach the British Open main round since 2022. He will face England's Curtis Malik in the first round on Sunday. Tayyab Aslam was the last Pakistani to compete in the main draw in 2022. Pakistan holds the record for the most British Open titles — 30 in total — including 10 won by legendary Jahangir Khan. Zaman's consistent performances underscore his rising prominence in international squash.
