Outsider Wichanee Meechai holds share of three-way lead at US Women’s Open

Wichanee Meechai has a share of the three-way lead at the US Women’s Open, and every reason to feel out of place at the top of a crowded leaderboard.

The 31-year-old from Thailand, currently ranked 158th in the world, is five under par through three rounds with two-time major winner Minjee Lee of Australia, and world number 17 and Stanford alumnus Andrea Lee.

This week in Lancaster, Meechai played like she’s been here the whole time. She delivered two big pars late Saturday afternoon, shooting a one-under 69 – and thankfully her bad dream on Friday evening of forgetting to sign her scorecard didn’t come true.

“I dream about the US Open. I think it’s in my head, very deep inside,” said Meechai, who will stay alone in a rental house during the tournament in Pennsylvania. “I don’t think I can get rid of it. I’m just trying to deal with it.”

Minjee Lee wasn’t going anywhere until she hit a six-iron to tap Eagle on the par-five seventh hole and climb the leaderboard. Equally impressive was her tee shot to a fearsome front-left pin on the infamous par-three 12th hole for birdie, as she equaled the championship low score with a four-under par 66.

Andrea Lee played bogey-free on the back nine with back-to-back birdies that put her in the final group, while former British Open champion Hinako Shibuno had seven birdies for a 66 and was two behind. Another shot back was her Japanese compatriot Yuka Saso, the only other player to remain under par after the third round.

Of the five players who seem destined to battle for the title and the $2.4 million prize money, the entire chasing pack has seen big moments: great champions in Minjee Lee, Shibuno and Saso, the Solheim Cup push for Andrea Lee .

But it was Meechai who put it all into perspective as he entered the final round. “It’s nothing to be afraid of,” she said. “Everyone has the same thing. Only one more round of the tournament. Join us and have fun on the track.”