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Though American Harigae later went to the front as the sun dipped
below the Carolina pines, Lindblad earned plaudits with a near
flawless performance on a day of low scoring in benign conditions at
toasty Pine Needles.
The world's number two amateur has a long way to go to emulate the
feats of compatriot Annika Sorenstam, the 72-time LPGA winner whose
victories included the 1996 Women's Open at this very place.
Lindblad, who played with Sorenstam on Thursday, is biding her time
as she hones her game without the pressure of playing for a living.
The 22-year-old plays college golf at Louisiana State University and
is in no hurry to turn pro, even though it means she is ineligible
to collect the $1.8 million that will be awarded the winner on
Sunday.
"It would have been fun to win a little bit of money (but) I'm going
to stay in college for another year or so," she said.
Leader Harigae, who had never broken 70 in 11 previous Open
appearances, took the lead with a chip-in birdie at the 16th hole
that left her more surprised than anyone.
"I never chip in in tournaments. I was super excited it happened,"
said the 32-year-old Harigae, a member of last year's U.S. Solheim
Cup team, though she has yet to win an LPGA Tour event.
"I was confident if I could hit it where you need to it would be a
pretty good day but I didn't think it would be this good. I'm really
confident with my putting right now."
Barely a breath of wind and reasonably soft greens allowed 30
players to break par in likely the easiest conditions all week.
Umbrellas were plentiful, but only to provide some shade from the
blazing sun.
Harigae and Lindblad have a bunch of big names breathing down their
necks, including Australian world number four Minjee Lee three
strokes behind and American gallery favourite Lexi Thompson four
back.
World number two Nelly Korda shot 70 in her comeback after a blood
clot, her day marred by a lost ball and subsequent double-bogey at
the 11th hole.
It was not smooth sailing for Michelle Wie, the 2014 champion at
nearby Pinehurst No. 2, who battled to a 73.
(Reporting by Andrew Both; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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