World No. 2 amateur Ingrid Lindblad made history Thursday, shooting a 65 in the first round of the U.S. Open – the lowest round by an amateur in any USGA championship. It’s also the lowest round by an amateur in the 77-year history of the U.S. Open.
Lindblad ended the day in second place, one stroke behind Mina Harigae, who leads the field.
The previous record by an amateur sat at 66, with Gina Kim the last to shoot a 66 in 2019. Two others – Carol Semple Thompson and Brittany Lincicome – had also tied for the lowest round for an amateur.
Lindblad’s playing partner, 51-year-old Annika Sorenstam, who is playing in her first U.S. Open since 2008, called the 22-year-old “fearless.”
“She’s really impressive,” said Sorenstam. “I think people see her as a long hitter, but I’m sure you saw her today. Some of those chip shots she hit, especially on 18, that was not an easy one. I was really impressed.
“She’s authentic. She’s got a special look, but she’s a fearless player. 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. I think she embraces it quite well.”
For her part, Lindblad was excited to be playing alongside one of the all-time greats in golf.
“I was like, ‘This cannot be true,’” Lindblad said of playing with Sorenstam. “It was really cool. We had fun out there. She fist-pumped me a few times for a few birdies.”
Elsewhere on the course, Nelly Korda shot one-under for the day to tie for 18th on the leaderboard in her return to golf. World No. 1 Jin Young Ko shot two-under and sits tied for 10th.