Ingrid Lindblad made history at the U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday.
The LSU Tigers golfer posted a 6-under 65 to kick off the major championship at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club in North Carolina, which gave her an early two-shot lead. It also marked the lowest score ever posted at the U.S. Women’s Open by an amateur.
HISTORY!
The lowest round EVER by an amateur in the #USWomensOpen now belongs to @iingridlindblad. She’s 2 clear of the field after a 6-under 65. pic.twitter.com/BUj7Yb3VAi
— U.S. Women’s Open (USGA) (@uswomensopen) June 2, 2022
“She’s a fearless player,” playing partner Annika Sorenstam said, via Golf.com’s Zephyr Melton. “I think she’s confident in her own game. I know she doesn’t shy away from the limelight that maybe I did as a young girl.”
Lindblad opened her day on the ninth hole and started with three birdies in her first five holes, which quickly got her to 2-under for the round. She then made three straight birdies after making the turn and finished with her seventh birdie of the day on the final hole — which officially gave her the amateur record.
The previous amateur mark at the U.S. Women’s Open was a 66, which has been shot three times in the event’s history. Lindblad’s 65 is also the lowest score shot by a European at the tournament since 1994.
Lindblad, who is the reigning SEC Player of the Year and the winningest player in LSU history, is fresh off an impressive performance at the NCAA Championships last month. The junior finished in a tie for third after posting a final round 2-under 70. She went 1-under on the week, and was five shots back of Stanford’s Rose Zhang, who won the individual title. As a team, LSU finished in 11th.
Lindblad still has a long way to go to actually pull off the win in North Carolina this week. The 22-year-old from Sweeden will enter Friday’s second round one shot out of the lead behind Mina Harigae.
If she can pull it off, though, she’d be just the second amateur to ever win the U.S. Women’s Open — and the first since 1967.
“It’s possible,” Lindblad said simply, via Golf.com.
That it is.
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