Gaby Lopez Tied for Third at 3-Under at U.S. Women’s Open

Gaby Lopez is tied for third at the 81st U.S. Women’s Open after 36 holes at 3-under par. She is one shot off the lead at Riviera Country Club, and her Friday position keeps her in the center of the major championship board entering the weekend.

Lopez At Riviera Country Club

Lopez opened with five birdies across her first nine holes in the first round, then gave back ground with bogeys on three of her final eight holes. She still stayed above the 36-hole cut line of 4-over par, which preserved a weekend round and kept her in range of the leaders.

The second round sharpened the picture. Lopez started one shot back and tied for second, birdied No. 1 to move to the top early, then closed with a 12-foot birdie putt on the par-3 16th before signing for a 71.

Alison Lee And Ruoning Yin

That 71 left Lopez at 3-under and one shot behind co-leaders Alison Lee and Ruoning Yin. She will start the third round at 4:15 p.m. CT paired with Sei Young Kim, with the scoreboard tight enough that a single swing can reshuffle the top of the tournament.

Maria Jose Marin At 1-Over

Maria Jose Marin also moved on at Riviera, finishing tied for 22nd at 1-over par and joining five amateurs who made the cut from a field that started with 28 amateurs. Marin, another former Arkansas women’s golfer, will tee off at 1:55 p.m. CT and comes in after making the cut in her previous two major appearances, the 80th U.S. Open and the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship.

Lopez now has the sort of weekend setup players want in a major: close enough to pressure the co-leaders, far enough ahead of the cut line to attack the course without scoreboard damage. The third round brings Sei Young Kim beside her, and the margin at the top is still only one shot.