Women's golf competitor Maja Stark maintains error-free game to secure 1-stroke advantage ahead of last round in the U.S. Women's Open Championship.

U.S. Women's Open 2025 at Erin Hills: A Brutal Battle of Skill and Mental Fortitude

ERIN, Wis. - On the third day of the U.S. Women's Open 2025, challengers battled the beast that is Erin Hills. The 25-year-old Maja Stark from Sweden, despite the course's increased challenges, managed to stay ahead of the pack, geared up to snag the whopping $2.4 million prize in the season's biggest women's golf event.

Stark shot a 2-under 70 to land a 7-under 209 total and a one-shot advantage going into the final round on Sunday. Julia Lopez Ramirez of Spain followed closely with a 68, the best score of the day.

"Tomorrow, I'm just gonna play loose and free," Stark said. "Nobody ever played well when they're playing scared, and that's been my habit before, just trying to hang on."

The Japanese trio of Rio Takeda, Hinako Shibuno, and second-round leader Mao Saigo trailed at 5 under, while top-ranked Nelly Korda hung at 4 under.

The day tested every golfer's mettle, with speedier greens and tricky pin placements causing chaos on the course. Many found themselves battling double bogeys and triple bogeys, as Esther Henseleit's infamous roll on the par-4 15th demonstrates—her eagle putt from 55 feet away traveled a staggering 90 feet beyond the hole and into the rough, leading to a double bogey.

"It's a proper rollercoaster out there," Stark described. "The greens can be deceiving, as they tend to place holes right on the edges of slopes, causing green speeds and break to be difficult to estimate. It's scary when you think putting this five feet by could result in putting three feet further beyond the hole."

Lopez Ramirez, less than three months after an appendectomy, made a surprising surge thanks to the struggles of others.

The 22-year-old rookie, who hasn't finished higher than a tie for 29th in any of her seven LPGA Tour appearances this season, was once the SEC player of the year in 2023 and 2024 at Mississippi State.

"I still have those nerves when I'm about to win," Lopez Ramirez said. "It's the most you care in that moment. You just wanna win the tournament."

Saigo, who took a three-shot lead into the day, made three straight bogeys at Nos. 4-6 and dropped to a tie for the lead. An 8 1/2-foot birdie putt on No. 12 helped her regain the lead, but a 21 1/2-foot birdie from Stark on the par-3 16th brought them even. Saigo then bogeyed the last two to fall two behind.

"The pin placements were my main trouble today," Saigo said through an interpreter. "I'll rest well tonight and come back fresh tomorrow."

Several other contenders faced similar misfortune. A Lim Kim, who entered Saturday in a six-way tie for second place, plummeted after a disastrous run, bogeying No. 2, double-bogeying No. 3, triple-bogeying No. 4, and bogeying No. 5. Jinhee Im and Noh also struggled, triple-bogeying the par-4 fourth and double bogeying No. 3, respectively.

Korda struggled early but rallied strong, garnering three birdies on her last five holes.

"Erin Hills is a true test, one where even a good shot can roll out of play," Korda said. "With the mentality that mistakes will happen, but you can also bounce back, things can go from bad to good real quick."

Course SpecificsErin Hills poses unique and formidable challenges for the players, featuring:

Undulating Topography: Dunes housing tees and greens lead to inconsistent lies, making shots more challenging due to varied ball positions and angles[1].
Blind and Semi-Blind Shots: The course features many hidden approaches and drives, forcing players to rely on strategy and intuition[1].
Requiring Tactical Play: Although fairways are generally wide, the course demands strategic decision-making, as players must carefully navigate the best lines to effectively approach the greens[1].
Difficult Greens and Collection Areas: Green approach shots are prone to rolling out to difficult putting distances or into collection areas, adding to the challenge of short game management[1].
Challenging Par and Lack of Water Hazards: The absence of significant water hazards is offset by the tough par. Players can score birdies, but par is considered a good score, increasing the overall difficulty of the course[1].

[1] - Golf Digest, "Desperate Drives: The U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills," [Link Removed]

In light of the unique challenges posed by Erin Hills, many golfers might also test their skills in sports such as tennis or engage in sports-analysis discussions to prepare for the U.S. Women's Open 2025. For instance, analyzing the strategic play of Mao Saigo, who held a second-round lead, might reveal important insights into navigating the course's blind and semi-blind shots. Similarly, studying the US Women's Open winners' history could provide valuable lessons for golfers aiming to handle the course's challenging greens and collection areas and avoid costly mistakes, much like Julia Lopez Ramirez managed despite her recent appendectomy.