Andrea Lee uses a late birdie run to take a 1-shot lead at the Mizuho Americas Open
WEST CALDWELL, NJ – Andrea Lee surprised even herself Thursday when she walked off the 18th green at Mountain Ridge with four birdies over her last five holes for a 6-under 66, giving her a one-shot lead over Jeeno Thitikul and Lydia Ko at the Mizuho Americas Open.
They were among only nine players to break 70 on a course that puts a premium on keeping the ball in play and being on the right side of the hole on contoured, greens.
“I didn’t see 6 under today to be honest, so I’m excited about that,” Lee said. “The game plan for today was to stay really patient, try to hit as many greens and fairways as possible, and just know that pars are good scores and try to minimize bogeys.”
The tournament, which features a separate Stableford tournament for the top 24 players from the American Junior Golf Association, is at Mountain Ridge for the first time. The course previously hosted the Founders Cup in 2021.
Absent this week is Nelly Korda, who has won her last two tournaments, including a major at The Chevron Championship, to return to world number 1.
His replacement, Jeeno Thitikul, took a big step in the right direction. Thitikul, who missed the cut at Chevron, got into trouble on the par-5 eighth. The ball was sitting high, and he ripped it from the green to 20 feet for eagle.
“It wasn’t a good start, but it ended up being really good,” he said.
Thitikul closed his round with a wedge that cleared the mound and came out to 2 feet for birdie on the par-3 16th.
The players caught a little more than a mid-air break, and it didn’t hurt that the showers hit the area the day before the tournament to wash away the green fire. However, it was key not to putts over the hole, especially with false fronts on some of the greens.
“If they don’t water the greens, and if we get cool air in a few days, it should be difficult,” said Thitikul. “That’s why I say it’s like an officer.”
Ko got his error out of the way quickly, bogeying the 11th hole when the pin was placed in a false position on the right side. It was difficult for everyone. Brooke Henderson had it in the perfect spot, over the front fake and about 25 feet from the pin-height, and just chipped it off the green.
Ko responded well, going birdie-eagle, and completing his 9th lead with two birdies. He’s happy with his putting — another new putter this week — and hasn’t felt good on the green since he shot a 60 in Phoenix earlier this year. That week a new putter appeared.
“There are other things you aim for that the pit is no longer even in your vision,” said Ko. “It reminds me a little bit of Lancaster Country Club where we played the US Women’s Open a few years ago. That was one of the fastest greens I’ve ever played on. I didn’t putt well there. This is a good start.”
Brooke Matthews had a chance to join Lee at the top of the leaderboard. He was 6 under until he double bogeyed the final hole of 68, leaving him tied with Hye-Jin Choi.
The 69-player team included Hannah Green and Nasa Hataoka.
Michelle Wie-West, the tournament manager, has come out of retirement to play as she plans to play the US Women’s Open for the last time next month at the Riviera. It didn’t go well. He had two double bogeys and a triple bogey in his round of 82.
Wie-West, a mother of two, was competing for the first time in three years.
“Golf can put you, I went places today,” he said. “But you have to see the big picture at the end of the day. I’m proud of what we’ve built here. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to find a place to play today.
“It’s just great to be out here. It’s great to feel the vibes.”
He was not alone in his struggles. Three other players failed to break 80. Counting is Lottie Woad, the number 10 player in the world, and Brianna Do, who partnered with Korda for 36 holes last week at the Riviera Maya Open in Mayakoba.
