Korda and Kim Surge Into Co-Lead in Thrilling Round 3 at Riviera

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PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. — Moving Day at the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open at Riviera Country Club lived up to its chaotic and thrilling reputation. World No. 1 Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Sei Young Kim vaulted themselves to the top of the leaderboard, carding superb under-par rounds on Saturday to share the 54-hole lead at 6-under par heading into Sunday’s final round.

With a congested leaderboard packed with major champions, gritty veterans, and fearless teenagers, the stage is set for an epic Sunday showdown for the most prestigious trophy in women’s golf.

Korda’s Comeback Continues; Kim Steady at the Top

After opening the tournament with a frustrating 2-over 73 that left her fighting just to make the cut, Nelly Korda has looked completely unstoppable. Following up her brilliant Friday 67, Korda fired another 4-under 67 on Saturday. She navigated Riviera’s punishing Kikuyu rough with precision iron play and clutch putting, putting herself in prime position to capture her first U.S. Women’s Open title.

Joining her at 6 under is Sei Young Kim, who quietly dismantled the course with a 3-under 68. Kim, an explosive player with a major championship pedigree, carded four birdies against just a single bogey to earn her spot in Sunday’s final pairing alongside Korda.

“I just focused on hitting fairways and giving myself looks,” Korda said after her round. “The course is firming up, but if you put it in the right spots, you can score. Tomorrow is going to be a battle.”

The Chasing Pack

Just one stroke back of the co-leaders sits a formidable duo at 5-under par:

Jennifer Kupcho: The first-round leader bounced back from a rocky Friday to shoot a steady 2-under 69.
Chun In-gee: The multi-time major champion carded her second consecutive under-par round (69) to remain right in the thick of the hunt.

Overnight co-leader Ruoning Yin slipped slightly with an even-par 71, dropping into a tie for fifth at 4-under alongside a surging Nasa Hataoka (68) and Gaby López (70). Meanwhile, Friday’s other co-leader, Alison Lee, slipped to 3 under after a 1-over par 72.

History Made by Amateur Phenom Asterisk Talley

The lowest round of the day belonged to England’s Charley Hull, who fired a blistering 6-under 65 to rocket into a tie for eighth at 3-under par.

However, the biggest headline of the morning belonged to 17-year-old amateur Asterisk Talley. The California teenager put on an absolute clinic, carding a historic, bogey-free 5-under 66 to push her errorless streak to 24 consecutive holes.

Talley’s remarkable effort achieved two massive milestones:

It tied the second-lowest round by an amateur in U.S. Women’s Open history.
It tied the lowest round ever by a teenager in the tournament’s history.

With her spectacular performance, Talley enters Sunday at 1-under par, comfortably sitting inside the top 20 and well within striking distance of a historic low-amateur finish.