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Chilean teen shares lead at Memorial

4 min read

Joaquin Niemann could figure out where Tiger Woods was on the golf course from the mass of people following him a few groups ahead, and he had a pretty good idea what he was doing from all the noise, at least before Woods put a putter in his hands.

“There was so many people,” Niemann said.

The few that stuck behind for the 19-year-old Chilean saw another good show.

In his fifth start as a pro, Niemann finished with two birdies over his last three holes for a 4-under 68 and a share of the lead with Kyle Stanley, who had a 66. He finished with an 8-foot birdie on the 18th hole.

Stanley, who won the Quicken Loans National last summer, was atop the leaderboard for much of the day and was starting to pull away until a poor tee shot at No. 6 led to bogey. He finished with a par save from just off the ninth green and reached 11-under 133.

On the other side of the course was Niemann, the No. 1 amateur in the world and Latin American Amateur champion who wanted to play the Masters before turning pro. He looks his age when his braces shine every time he smiles. He plays beyond his years.

Byeong Hun An had a 67 and was two shots behind.

Among those three off the lead were Hideki Matsuyama (71) and Jason Day, a former world No. 1 who is a member at Muirfield Village and has never come close to winning. Perhaps this is the year. Day had never been within five shots of the lead going into the weekend at the Memorial.

Henrik Stenson and Justin Rose each had a 66 and were in the group at 7-under 137, while Dustin Johnson was among those at 138, even though he has played the par 5s in just 1 under for the week.

Rory McIlroy shot a 70 to make the cut on the number. Jordan Spieth missed the cut by three shots.

Tiger 6 off lead: Tiger worked his way into contention at the Memorial, despite his putter letting him down.

He energized the crowd, too, with a brilliant eagle on the par-5 11th at Muirfield Village, a place where he’s won five times.

Woods carded a 67 for the day. He is at 5-under, six shots behind co-leaders Kyle Stanley and Joaquin Niemann.

Smith leads U.S. Women’s Open: Sarah Jane Smith has extended her lead at the U.S. Women’s Open.

The Australian shot a second straight 5-under 67 Friday at Shoal Creek, getting in her round before a lengthy weather delay.

Smith opened the day in a three-way tie atop the leaderboard with Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Korean Jeongeun Lee. She’s at 10-under 134 heading into the weekend after failing to make the cut in five of her previous six U.S. Women’s Open tries.

Jutanugarn was at 6 under overall after four holes when play was halted. Lee fell back to 2 under with a second-day 75. Korean-born Su-Hyun Oh shot 68 and is also 6 under.

Lincicome to play on PGA: Brittany Lincicome is set to join the club of female professionals playing in a PGA Tour event.

Lincicome said Friday at the U.S. Women’s Open she was asked to play in the Barbasol Championship in Kentucky July 19-22.

Lincicome says it’s something she’s always wanted to do, but that it’s not about “trying to compare yourself to the men.”

Smoltz qualifies for Senior Open: Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz is making his mark in a new sport.

Golf.

The 51-year-old Smoltz qualified for the U.S. Senior Open on Thursday, emerging from a three-man playoff to take the final spot.

Jack Larkin and Sonny Skinner got through in regulation by shooting 4-under 68 at the 18-hole qualifier at Pianterra Ridge Golf Club in Peachtree City, Georgia, with Smoltz and two others one stroke back. On the third extra hole, Smoltz finished off Brian Ferris despite making double bogey.

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