ENGLISH WOMEN'S MID-AM SWITCH TO STROKE-PLAY OVER TWO ROUNDS

NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF
Play was abandoned today in the English women’s open mid-amateur championship at Wetherby, Yorkshire, after persistent heavy rain flooded the course. The title will now be decided tomorrow over of 36 holes of stroke play.
Conditions made it impossible to start today’s scheduled matchplay rounds and, after a review at 12 noon, play was abandoned and the championship format changed to stroke play.
Weather permitting, play will start at 8am and will be contested by the 32 competitors who had qualified for the matchplay stages.
They are led by Nicole Whitmore (Woburn) and Hayley Davis (Ferndown) and also include the Curtis Cup players, Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) and Amy Boulden of Wales. Yorkshire champion Ellie Robinson (Wilton) and Megan Garland (The Oaks) represent the host county.
Championship manager Emma Lowe said: “It is very disappointing for everyone that the weather has been so disruptive this week, but we are hoping for a very good day’s golf tomorrow.”
So far, the field has managed to complete just 18 holes in two days of torrential rain.
Order of play
0800 and 1215 Natalie Lowe (Styal) and Charlotte Thompson (Channels)
0808 and1223 Kimberley Bradbury (Cavendish) and Elizabeth Richards (Hagley)
0816 and 1231 Amy Boulden (Conwy) and Emma Tayler (Saunton)
0824 and 1239 Chelsea Masters (Highwoods,Bexhill)  and Rosie Davies (Coombe Hill)
0832 and 1247 Melissa Siviter (Enville) and Megan Briggs (Kilmacolm)
0840 and 1255 Megan Garland (The Oaks) and Stacey Rodger (West Hove)
0848 and 1303 Kelly Tidy (Royal Birkdale) and Emily Perry (NZ)
0856 and 1311 Raffi Dyer (Hayling) and Kirsty O’Connor (Wales)
0904 and 1319 Kerry Smith (Waterlooville) and Daisy Dyer (Chigwell)
0912 and 1327 Emma Carberry (Highwoods, Bexhill) and Jessica Bradley (Tiverton)
0920 and 1335 Sarah-Jane Boyd (Truro) and Ami Storey (Ponteland)
0928 and 1343 Jo Hodge (The Kendleshire) and Nicola Rawlinson (Royal Birkdale)
0936 and 1351 Kirsty Rands (Burhill) and Ellie Robinson (Wilton)
0944 and 1359 Alexandra Peters (Notts Ladies) and Sophie Powell (Manchester)
0952 and 1407 Charlotte Thomas (Singapore Island) and Jess Wilcox (Blankney) 1000 and 1415 Hayley Davis (Ferndown) and Nicole Whitmore (Woburn)

PETTERSEN MAKES EARLY CHARGE IN US WOMEN'S OPEN

Reuters report: Norway's Suzann Pettersen, following her game plan to near perfection, birdied four of her first seven holes on the way to an early one-shot lead in the second round of the U.S. Women's Open in Kohler, Wisconsin.
The 31-year-old, pictured by courtesy of Getty Images(c), two strokes off the pace overnight, fired a sparkling four-under-par 68 on a slightly cooler day at Blackwolf Run to post a five-under total of 139 at the year's third major.
Michelle Wie was in hot pursuit, a best-of-the-week 66 lifting her into a share of second place with fellow American Cristie Kerr, who carded a 71.
Germany's Sandra Gal (70), South Korea's Park In-bee (70) and American Vicky Hurst (70) were a further stroke back at three-under 141.
Pettersen, who won her first major title at the 2007 LPGA Championship, was delighted with her position going into weekend.
"I got off to a very good start, hit a lot of the shots I tried to hit, and just tried to execute my game plan," the Norwegian told reporters after mixing five birdies with a bogey at the par-four fourth.
"There are definitely low scores and birdies out there, so I'm very happy where I'm at. I can put my legs up now and rest a little bit."
Pettersen surged up the leader board with birdies at the 10th, 12th, 14th and 16th after starting out on the back nine. Though she bogeyed the fourth, she recovered with a birdie at the eighth to retain the outright lead.
"The course is very playable," she said. "You hit the fairways, you give yourself a lot of chances out here. The greens are rolling perfect.
"You don't try to attack every pin. You try to give yourself some makeable putts on the more difficult holes, and the few holes where you feel you can be aggressive you have to try to step on it."
LOFTY EXPECTATIONS
Wie, who has yet to live up to the lofty expectations heaped upon her when she turned professional in 2005 at the age of 15, captured the spotlight at Blackwolf Run with a sizzling seven-birdie display.
"It went well today," beamed the 22-year-old Hawaiian. "It was just fun. I just went out there and kind of tried to be patient. When putts started dropping in, it makes for a low round.
"But it (the tournament) is only halfway done. I got a long way in front of me. I'm really glad I shot the score I did today and that I'm back in contention and I'm really looking forward to this weekend."
Wie, who has triumphed twice on the LPGA Tour but has to win a major title despite several close calls, felt the course was a little easier to play on Friday.
"For starters it wasn't quite as hot, which is nice, and the pins are a little bit more in the centre today than yesterday," she said. "But overall it's still a U. S. Open golf course. I played out of my butt today to shoot six under."
Taiwan's world number one Yani Tseng, who opened with a 74, carded a 72 to end the second round seven strokes behind the pacesetting Pettersen.
Long-hitting Brittany Lincicome, joint leader overnight with Kerr and fellow American Lizette Salas, battled to an 80 to finish at five-over 149, a stroke outside the projected cutline.
"I did nothing right today," the 26-year-old said. "I couldn't drive the ball. I couldn't putt.
"You go out and feel like you did so good yesterday and I have no idea what happened today. You get it in the wrong place here and there, and it's tough."

SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD

Par  144 (2x72)
players from US unless stated
139 Suzann Pettersen (Norway) 71 68.
140 Michelle Wie 74 66, Cristie Kerr 69 71
141 Sandra Gal (Germany) 71 70, Inbee Park (S Korea) 71 70, Vicky Hurst 71 70

BRITISH SCORES

148 Melissa Reid (England) 79 69

PROJECTED CUT: 149 and better to qualify


151 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) 75 76
152 Karen Stupples (England) 76 76
157 Becky Morgan (Wales) 81 76
161 Stephanie Meadow (N Ireland)(am) 77 84

STRATHAVEN GIRL WINS JANICE MOODIE TROPHY

 Strathaven swingers - Katie Scott (left) and Molly Richmond, two of the leading prizewinners.

JANICE MOODIE TROPHY REPORT

FROM LINDSAY MATHIE

Windyhill GC Ladies Captain

After days of intermittent flash floods the sun made a very welcome appearance at Windyhill Golf Club for today’s Janice Moodie Trophy.  The 36 competitors, some who had travelled the length and breadth of the country, ranged in ages from 11-18, with handicaps 2-25.

 Despite the challenging windy conditions scoring was very impressive with 13 year old Katie Scott (Strathaven), coming in with a nett 71, 1 under par, to win the Janice Moodie Trophy.
 Katie won on countback from Rachael McClelland from Milngavie who plays off 18 and shot 89 also.
 The scratch prize was won by Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe), with an impressive 77, bih, from Eleanor Tunn, (Reay).

 As ever our thanks go to Janice Moodie for her continued and valued support of this event and girls golf in Scotland.

If any of the girls would like copies of the photos taken on the first tee then please contact Anne Laing, alaing@elmwood.ac.uk

Par 72, CSS 73

Prizewinners

Janice Moodie Trophy

Winner - Katie Scott (Strathaven) 88 - 17 = 71 BIH

Scratch - Hannah Scott (Broomieknowe) 77 BIH

11 - 14 Age Group

1st Molly Richmond (Strathaven) 91 - 18 = 73

2nd Andrea Walker (Falkirk) 87 - 13 = 74

15 - 21 Age Group ( 15 - 17 + 18 - 21 Age group combined due to number of entries in each category) 

1st Rachel McClelland (Milngavie) 89 - 18 = 71

2nd Rachel Irvine (Largs) 82 - 10 = 72

DAVID BOOTH jt 2nd IN WORLD STUDENTS GOLF IN CZECH REPUBLIC

Spain made a clean sweep of the men's and women's individual titles AND the two team titles in the world universities golf championships which ended at Liberec in the Czech Republic today. But there was a very good individual effort by Stirling's David Booth (pictured). He finished joint second. Great Britain team-mates Jack McDonald and Graeme Robertson came  joint 14th and 26th in the men's section. Booth, from Rotherham, scored 71, 67, 68 and 67 for a total of 273.  David's aggregate was three strokes behind the winner, Spain's Carlos Pigem (69-64-68-69). Juan Sarasti Bernaras (Spain) and Sweden's Philip Eriksson also totalled 273. The official website scoreboard indicates that Booth and Bernaras were placed joint second and Eriksson fourth. There were four Spaniards in the top six finishers. McDonald had rounds of 70, 71, 72 and 67 for 280. Great Britain tied with Ireland on 835 as joint runners-up to men's team title winners Spain (808). South Korea (838) were fourth. In the women's section, Stirling's Eilidh Briggs and Hannah McCook finished 15th and 34th respectively. Eilidh scored 75, 73, 71 and 69 for 288 - 17 shots behind the winner, Spain's Camilla Hedberg (68-72-67-64 for 271). US Curtis Cup player Amy Anderson, who led by three shots with a round to go, finished second on 272 (67-69-68-68). Hannah had rounds of 79-77-72-73 for 301. In the women's team competition, Spain and the United States both finished at the head of the leaderboad on 545 but, judging by the website, Spain took the title with the better last round team aggregate of 134 to the United States' 136. When the tournament website catches up with its daily summaries, we will be able to confirm this - or otherwise. Germany (557) were third, Sweden (561) fourth, Great Britain (581) seventh and Ireland (594) 11th. LEADING INDIVIDUAL FINAL TOTALS MEN 270 Carlos Pigem (Spain) 69 64 68 69 273 Juan Sarasti Bernaras (Spain) 69 64 73 67, David Booth (GB) 71 657 68 67, Philip Eriksson (Sweden) 67 69 64 75. SELECTED TOTALS 278 Ian O'Rourke (Ireland) 72 65 67 74 280 Chris Selfridge (Ireland) 74 71 69 66, Jack McDonald (GB) 70 71 72 67 (T14). 281 Gary Hurley (Ireland) 68 69 77 67 (T19) 283 Graeme Robertson (GB) 72 68 74 69 (26th). 296 Ryan McKintry (Ireland) 75 71 73 77 (T62) Field of 80 players. WOMEN 271 Camilla Hedberg (Spain) 68 72 67 64 272 Amy Anderson (US) 67 69 68 68 277 Caroline Powers (US) 72 69 68 68, Marta Sanz Barrio (Spain) 73 70 64 70 SELECTED TOTALS 285 Rocio Sanchez Lobato (Spain) 71 71 72 71 288 Eilidh Briggs (GB) 75 73 71 69 (T14) 296 Lucy Simpson (Ireland) 73 75 73 75 (T24) 298 Tara Gribben (Ireland) 75 74 75 74(T28) 301 Hannah McCook (GB) 79 77 72 73 (34th) 305 Charlotte Austwick (GB) 78 70 81 76 (T41) 312 Sara Helly (Ireland) 77 80 78 77 (45th).

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PRETSWELL T6 IN HER DEBUT AS A PR0 IN NORWAY CHALLENGE

Marianne Skarpnord (left) and runner-up Daniel Holmqvist. Picture by courtesy of DogLegMedia.

 REPORT AND SCORES FROM BETHAN CUTLER
Media Manager, Ladies European Tour

Marianne Skarpnord delighted the home fans with a victory in the Ladies Norwegian Challenge at Hauger Golf Club in Oslo on the Ladies European Tour Access Series on Friday.  

The 26-year-old from Sarpsborg in Norway started the final round three strokes clear of Swede Camilla Lennarth but a final round of 73 was good enough to end the three-round tournament five strokes ahead of Daniela Holmqvist, a Swedish amateur who played in the "British" at Carnoustie last week.

The victory was Skarpnord’s first on the Access Series but her third as a professional golfer after she won twice on the main Ladies European Tour in Switzerland and Italy in 2009. She was the winner of the British girls open amateur title in 2003.

She decided to play in the tournament to please her main sponsor, Nordea, as the tournament was also sanctioned by the Nordea Tour. She felt that she had made the right decision as the tournament was played in beautiful sunshine over all three days. 

BREAK FROM GOLF

“I was very pleased because I didn’t play any golf coming into the tournament so I didn’t know how I was going to play,” said Skarpnord, who shot rounds of 73, 66 and 73. “I played okay but putted the best on the second day. In the final round I played really good the first five holes and putted well the last five holes but in between it was nothing to talk about.”

Skarpnord birdied the first and the fifth but double bogeyed the par-four sixth before dropping another shot at the ninth. She also bogeyed the 10^th but picked up a stroke at the par-three 17^th.

She finished on a four under par total of 212 and won €5000. Her next event will be the Ladies Irish Open supported by Failte Ireland at Killeen Castle from August 3-5 on the Ladies European Tour, while the next LETAS event is the Women’s Bank Open to be played on August 9-11 at Hillside Golf Club in Helsinki, Finland.

  SCOTSWATCH
 Pamela Pretswell ended her professional debut in a satisfactory joint sixth place behind home winner Marianne Skarpnord.

 The Hamilton 23-year-old shot 72-78-72 for a six-over-par total of 222 - 12 behind Skarpnord who won the British girls title in 2003 and collected 5,000 Euros for this victory.

Pretswell's performance enabled her to maintain second place in the Ladies European Tour Access Series Order of Merit table. If she finishes in the top three at the end of the season, she will be able to skip the LET Q School in Morocco, having gained automatically playing rights on the main tour for 2013.

Pamela Feggans from Patna, Ayrshire finished well with a 73 for joint 11th place on 224 after earlier rounds of 75 and 76

  Glasgow's Gemma Websiter shot 80-73-78 for 34th place on 231.

 

FINAL TOTALS

212 - Marianne Skarpnord (NOR) 73 66 73
217 - Daniela Holmqvist (SWE) (am) 71 75 71
218 - Rachel Bell (ENG) 74 70 74
219 - Maria Ohlsson (SWE) 73 71 75
221 - Camilla Lennarth (SWE) 68 74 79
222 - Erika Holmen (SWE) 77 73 72, Emma Henrikson (SWE) 77 72 73, Pamela Pretswell (SCO) 72 78 72, Danielle Mcveigh (IRL) 73 72 77
223 - Monica Christiansen (DNK) 73 80 70
224 - Mariell Bruun (NOR) 80 73 71, Jessica Karlsson (SWE) 73 72 79, Kim Ulander (SWE) 78 74 72, Pamela Feggans (SCO) 75 76 73
225 - Emelie Lind (SWE) 74 74 77, Galina Rotmistrova (RUS) 74 77 74
226 - Anna Dahlberg Soderstrom (SWE) 79 70 77, Caroline Martens (NOR) 72 78 76, Malin Lundberg (SWE) 71 75 80, Isabella Ramsay (SWE) 75 74 77
227 - Linda Henriksson (FIN) 75 77 75, Nicoline Skaug (NOR) 74 78 75, Marita Engzelius (NOR) 76 73 78, Emelie Lindskog (SWE) 75 74 78, Cesilie Hagen (NOR) 72 79 76
228 - Helena Callahan (SWE) 79 71 78, Sohvi Harkonen (FIN) 79 71 78
229 - Antonella Cvitan (SWE) 75 77 77, Annette Lyche (NOR) 74 79 76, Mette Kryger (DNK) 75 75 79, Josefine Sundh (SWE) 76 75 78
230 - Melodie Bourdy (FRA) 74 79 77, Sofia Berglund (SWE) 76 77 77
231 - Gemma Webster (SCO) 80 73 78
232 - Josefin Leijon (SWE) 75 75 82, Emeilie Ferlin (SWE) 79 72 81, Olivia Hullert (NOR) 73 80 79, Maria Ringdahl (SWE) 76 76 80, Maria Tonnessen (NOR) 74 78 80
235 - Rebecca Sorensen (SWE) 76 76 83
236 - Sara Wikstrom (SWE) 77 76 83

 

Bethan Cutler

Media Manager

Ladies European Tour

Mobile: +44 (0)7980056045

E: bcutler@ladieseuropeantour.com

www.ladieseuropeantour.com

HEATHER BLOOMING AGAIN IN SCOTTISH SENIORS MATCH-PLAY FINAL

SLGA president Margaret MacNaughtan (left) presents the trophy to Heather Anderson. Image by Carol Fell.

Blairgowrie's Heather Anderson, playing in the final for the fourth successive year, beat first-time finalist Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) by 4 and 3 to win the Scottish senior women's amateur match-play golf championship at Kemnay Golf Club, Aberdeenshire this afternoon.
Heather last won the match-play title at Kinross in 2009 and was runner up in 2010 and 2011.
Anderson got off to a good start and was two up after three holes.
Paterson fought back to all square after six.
Anderson birdied the eighth and parred the ninth to be two up at the turn.
Anderson increased her lead to three holes with a par at the 10th. Paterson got one back by winning the 11th with a par but her opponent won the 12th and 13th with pars to go four up. Janice had a good par 3 to win the short 14th but she was running out of holes. Anderson's par at the long 15th was enough to win the tie.
In the morning semi-finals, Janice Paterson had a good one-hole win over Linda Urquhart (Banchory) who had earlier beaten top seed Alex Glennie(Kilmarnock Barassie) and former champion Pamela Williamson (Baberton).
Heather Anderson beat Karen Burns (Bathgate) 5 and 3 in the other semi-final.
The handicap championship was won by Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) who must like the air in the north-east. She won the scratch title a few years back when the tournament was played at Ballater GC.
In this week's handicap final Karen beat Leigh Duff (Cathkin Braes) by 3 and 2. Karen plays off five and Leigh 12.

TODAY'S RESULTS

SCRATCH
SEMI-FINALS
Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) bt Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 1 hole.

Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) bt Karen Burns (Bathgate) 5 and 3

FINAL
Anderson bt Paterson 4 and 3.
HANDICAP
SEMI-FINALS
Karen Ballantyne (Craigmillar Park) (5) bt Sandra Littlejohn (Erskine) (11) 5 and 3.
Leigh Duff (Cathkin Braes) (12) bt Gillian Wallace (Blairgowrie) (6) at 19th.
FINAL
Ballantyne bt Duff 3 and 2.

*To view all the pictures Carol Fell took at the Scottish senior women's championships at Kemnay

CLICK HERE
https://plus.google.com/photos/111650308255138695552/albums?banner=pwa

+The Editor would like to express his sincere thanks to Carol Fell for her service of words and pictures from Kemnay. Her reward is a round of golf over the King's Course, Gleneagles and a free lunch in the Dormie House on Monday ... watch this space!

MURRAYFIELD A WIN MORISON MILLAR TROPHY TOURNAMENT

                    MURRAYFIELD A - THE WINNERS
Thirty-two teams of four ladies from 21 Edinburgh golf clubs took part in the double foursomes Morison Millar Trophy Tournament at Murrayfield Golf Club on Thursday.
Thirty-four entries had been received for this popular tournament resulting in two teams being balloted out. The unseasonal weather has certainly not been kind to golfers in the past few weeks and as a result, according to records, this was the first time that the Tournament has been reduced to one round.
After some very heavy deluges of rain the day before, fog and mist had been forecast for the morning so the Committee decided that players should play the afternoon round.
The fog finally lifted and although the course was extremely wet underfoot, the greenkeepers had made a sterling effort in keeping all the greens in a playable condition and this was much appreciated by all the players.
Thankfully, all teams completed their round before any further mist or rain descended. In the evening, we were delighted to welcome Mrs Jan Paterson, great granddaughter of Mrs Morison Millar, who was accompanied by her daughter Isabella, to present the prizes.
Winners - Murrayfield A (Rosie Dennis and Jane Neville, Margaret Fergusson and Lynn Wilson)  net 153½
2nd – Craigmillar Park A (Sal Shepherd and Olivia Fulton,  Dee Williams and Celia McIntyre) net 156
3rd – Merchants A (Sylvia Cooke and Norma Hogg, Christine Boal and Marian Duff) net 159
4th – Murrayfield B (Ray Lynch and Norma Richmond, Fiona Ford and Lynne Whitaker) net 159½
Best net 18 holes outwith team prizes
Sheila Keddie and Linda Lindsay (Dalmahoy A) net 74½
Second best net 18 outwith team prizes
Liz Grandison and Ali Thompson (Musselburgh B) net79 (bih).
Dormie Salver - Scratch Score - 18 holes
Sal Shepherd and Olivia Fulton (Craigmillar Park A) gross 84

Report by Sarah Ledingham

Secretary
Morison Millar Trophy Tournament Committee

HEATHER and JANICE BEFORE THE SENIORS FINAL AT KEMNAY

  Finalists Heather Anderson (left) and Janice Paterson before the big match at Kemnay this afternoon. Picture by Carol Fell.

CAROL FELL REPORTS FROM KEMNAY

Results of this morning's scratch semi-finals in the Scottish senior women's amateur (close) match-play championship at Kemnay Golf Club

Janice Paterson (Drumpellier) bt Linda Urquhart (Banchory) 1 hole.

Heather Anderson (Blairgowrie) bt Karen Burns (Bathgate) 5 and 3

Great first match. Linda was one up at the turn. Janice won the the par 3 14th to square match.

Janice then won 15th to go one up.

Linda squared at 17th.

Then Janice hit a super drive, five-wood to six feet at 18th to win match by one hole.

It's the first time Janice Paterson has reached the match-play final.

Elmwood College Golf Open Day

ENGLAND'S TOP GIRL PROSPECTS NAMED FOR RandA JUNIOR OPEN

NEWS RELEASE FROM ENGLAND GOLF
Two of the country’s emerging talents, Gabriella Cowley (West Essex) and Stefan Gnyla (Copt Heath, Warwickshire), have been chosen to represent England Golf in the RandA’s Junior Open at Fairhaven Golf Club, Lancashire, from July 16 – 18.
Gabriella is the English U15 girls’ champion and the Scottish U16 open stroke play winner. The 16-year-old has just been named as one of four new caps to represent England Golf in the Girls’ Home Internationals in Wales in August.
She tied eighth in the 2012 English women’s amateur and has also just helped Essex to reach the finals of the English Counties’ Championship.
Gabriella, who is the Essex girls’ champion, was a member of the winning Nations Cup team at the Fairhaven trophy earlier this season. She trains with England Golf’s Select South East squad.
While Gnyla is only 13 years of age he has already achieved much in golf. He was the Warwickshire under 12 champion in 2010 and the under 14 winner last year. He also won the Warwickshire Young Masters tournament three times, in 2008, 2009 and 2010.
He has twice been a winner of the US Kids European Championships at Gullane, in 2008 and 2010, and finished runner-up in 2009 and last year. In the 2009 US Kids World Championships at Pinehurst he again finished second.
Gnyla is a scratch team player at Copt Heath, is a member of the Warwickshire under 14, under 16 and under 18 teams and represented the North under 16s against the England under 16s this year, taking three points from four.
The RandA Junior Open is played every two years and is a truly international event. A total of 60 nations were represented in 2008 at Hesketh, 77 at Lundin two years ago and it is hoped there will be even more at Fairhaven. For many, it will be a first taste of international golf and of representing their country.

Lynne Fraser
Marketing and PR Manager
England Golf
Email: l.fraser@englandgolf.org
Tel: 01526 354500

HEAT IN THE HUNDREDS AT US WOMEN'S OPEN IN WISCONSIN

By David Shefter, USGA

Kohler, Wisconsin – What do you get when combining one of the most demanding U.S. Women’s Open lay-outs with searing weather conditions?
Blackwolf Sun.
With the mercury on Thursday rising into triple digits and the heat index registering as high as 115, according to AccuWeather.com, at Blackwolf Run, the first round of the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open became as much about survival as skill.
Umbrellas popped, water and sports drink bottles opened and cold towels were wrapped around the game’s best female players and their caddies. And with rounds averaging 5¾ hours, competitors did anything to stay focused on the longest course – at sea level – in this championship's history.
Can you say … Blackwolf Fun?
For the select few who managed to negotiate the par-72 Pete Dye design, which can play as long as 6,954 yards but measures 6,808 this week, it was a pleasant day, even if it felt a bit like playing in a sauna.
Brittany Lincicome, 2007 champion Cristie Kerr and qualifier Lizette Salas, a 22-year-old LPGA Tour rookie from Azusa, California, posted the lone sub-70 scores with 3-under-par 69s.

THEN AND NOW AT BLACKWOLF RUN

1998 First Round Scores At Par Or Better (18)

1998 First Round Scores At 80 Or Higher (18)

2012 First Round Scores At Par Or Better (23)

2012 First Round Scores At 80 Or Higher (31)

The American trio was one better than four players: Ai Miyazato of Japan, the world’s No. 3-ranked player fresh off last week’s LPGA Tour win in the searing heat of Rogers, Ark.; 17-year-old Lexi Thompson, Beatriz Recari of Spain and past USA Curtis Cup member Jennie Lee, who birdied her final four holes.
Another group of seven golfers, led by 2008 champion Inbee Park and Suzanne Pettersen, carded 71s.
Defending champion So Yeon Ryu bogeyed three of her last four holes for a 74, while world No. 1 Yani Tseng, seeking a Women’s Open title to complete the career grand slam, shot 74. Stacy Lewis, the top-ranked American and world No. 2, struggled to a 77.
Fourteen years ago, when the Women’s Open was first conducted at Blackwolf Run and the winning score was 6-over 290, 18 golfers shot par (71) or better in the first round.
Playing a course roughly 400 yards longer, 23 players were at even-par 72 or better.
Temperatures in 1998, however, never reached the century mark, although player emotions nearly boiled over due to the course’s difficulty.
Hydration and patience were paramount in Round One.
“I was drinking every hole,” said Thompson, who would become the youngest major champion in history with a victory this week. “I had my umbrella out all day and a cool towel around my neck.”
Miyazato wore her traditional high socks, not so much as a fashion statement but as a way to block out the harsh sun and keep her legs from turning to jelly. She also put an ice bag in her golf bag and used an umbrella.
“Most people think I am crazy, but it’s not really hot, though,” said the 27-year-old Miyazato, whose final-round 65 on Sunday won the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in similar weather conditions.
Salas donned a special long-sleeve undershirt.
“It reflects the sun and keeps you cool,” said Salas. “I don’t know what brand it is, but they’re really good.”
So was her performance, which isn’t anything new.
A year ago at The Broadmoor, Salas, competing in her second Women’s Open and first as a professional, opened with a 69. She remained in the top 10 through the weekend until a final-round 75 left her tied for 15th and the biggest cheque of her fledgling career ($49,658).
Now a full member of the LPGA Tour after surviving a nine-way playoff for the last available cards at Qualifying School last December, the four-time University of Southern California All-American has made seven of eight cuts in 2012, but hasn’t finished better than a tie for 22nd.
That could change this week. Outside of a bogey at No. 11, Salas played near-flawless golf, finishing off the round in style with a 6-iron approach to 7 feet for a birdie.

A golfer who grew up idolizing Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez and Lorena Ochoa – not only for their games but for their Mexican heritage – Salas has been traveling the circuit this year with family members in her dad’s 2006 truck to help curb expenses. Lopez even called her prior to her first Symetra Tour event last year.

“I don’t know how she got my number,” said Salas. “I met her in Phoenix as I debuted on the LPGA Tour [earlier this year]. And she’s still my role model.”
Native Floridians Lincicome, 26, of Seminole, and Kerr, 34, of Miami, certainly are accustomed to hot and sticky days, especially in the summer.
ROUNDS LASTING 5 1/2 HOURS
“You kind of have to take your mind somewhere else and not focus on what you’re doing because 5½ hours, it’s hard to concentrate that long,” said Lincicome. “When it was your turn to hit, you really had to focus 110 percent on every single shot. The holes I bogeyed I thought they were easy wedge shots … and I didn’t put as much energy into those.”
The five-time LPGA Tour winner, including the 2009 Kraft Nabisco Championship, did focus on the greens, registering 27 putts. Her five birdies were offset by two bogeys, and she hit 13 of 18 greens.
 “I was very in control of everything today, which is a nice feeling,” said Lincicome. “I knew exactly where my irons were going. The putts, even if I read them wrong, I still kind of got them on track, and I was making them.
“If golf could be this easy every single day, I might make a living out of it.”
Kerr’s round got off to an inauspicious start. After a 15-minute delay on the tee, her drive on No. 10 found the Sheboygan River. She managed a remarkable up-and-down par from 134 yards by holing an 18-foot putt. She followed with birdies on Nos. 11, 13 and 15 and finished with 12 consecutive pars to garner one of two bogey-free rounds, along with Recari.
CONSISTENCY IS GOAL
“My goal is to play this consistently for the rest of the week,” said Kerr, who is seeking her first win of 2012 and 15th of her career. “I’ve been pretty inconsistent this year. But I found that determination, that fire in my belly today that said, ‘I hooked it in the hazard on my first hole today and made an unbelievable par.’ That proved to myself that I was there. I said to myself, ‘No, I’m not letting it go this way today. I’m not letting it go this way this week.’
“You never know when the light switch turns on and I feel like it has.”
Yet another Floridian, Thompson, could become the youngest major champion. She already owns two professional wins, including the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic that made her, at 16, the LPGA Tour’s youngest-ever champion.
Two minor hiccups midway through her round at 12 and 13 were tempered by a sizzling finish of three birdies in the last four holes. An 8-footer on the difficult par-4 18th, which played 452 yards, capped off the 70, which tied the best Women’s Open round of her career.
EXTRA PUTTING PRACTICE
The 2008 U.S. Girls’ Junior champion and member of the victorious 2010 USA Curtis Cup Team said some extra putting sessions with instructors Dave Stockton and Jim McLean have provided added confidence this week. At the Kraft Nabisco Championship in March, she struggled on the greens (T-22), and that carried over to last month’s LPGA Championship, where she tied for 30th with no sub-par rounds.
“I was trying to change a bunch of things at one time, which probably wasn’t the best idea,” said Thompson. “Putting is pretty much about confidence and just trusting your line and putting a good stroke on it. If it doesn’t go in, you can’t do anything about it. It’s just a mindset and a few technical things in my stroke and setup.”
Thompson planned a quick lunch before heading to the hotel. Kerr had dinner plans with good friends.
All of them, however, were happy to get into air-conditioned confines.
On this day, it was just good to be … Blackwolf Done. 

+David Shefter is a senior staff writer for the USGA. Email him at dshefter@usga.org.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72
Players from US unless stated
69 Lizette Salas, Brittany Lincicome, Cristie Kerr
70 Beatriz Recari (Spain), Ai Miyazato (Japan), Lexi Thompson, Jennie Lee

BRITISH SCORES
75 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) (T55)
77 Stephanie Meadow (Northern Ireland) (T94)
79 Melissa Reid (England) (T118)
81 Becky Morgan (Wales) (T134)

SCROLL DOWN TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES

LYDIA KO (15) GETS SAME SCORE (74) AS YANI TSENG

FROM THE USGA WEBSITE

By Stuart Hall

Kohler, Wisconsin – Not until Lydia Ko reached Blackwolf Run’s beguiling first green on Thursday did reality finally set in.
“I was lining up my putt on the first hole and I could feel my hands shaking a lot, I was quite nervous,” she said of her experience on a hole that is coined “Quiver.”
Welcome to the 67th U.S. Women’s Open.
Ko, 15, of New Zealand, certainly showed no perceptible signs of knee-knocking in her debut appearance. One under par through 11 holes, Ko made three bogeys coming in to finish with a respectable 2-over 74.
“I guess this tournament is a bit different,” she said, allowing herself to crack a smile. “I set even par as my goal, so I’m a little disappointed.”
The round left the world’s No. 1-ranked female amateur tied with the world’s No. 1-ranked female professional, Yani Tseng.
“I hit a few close on the front nine, but was unable to execute them, and then had some really fine two-putts,” said Ko. “So it wasn’t too bad, and it wasn’t a bad start to the U.S. Open. So hopefully it will get better as the week goes on.”
CONFIDENCE HIGH
Ko’s expectation of sticking around for the weekend is not a case of extreme hubris, but indicative of a confidence borne from high-level results.
En route to winning the 2011 Mark H. McCormick Medal, given to the No. 1-ranked male and female amateurs in the world, Ko, pictured in action by John Mummert of the USGA staff, had a memorable run. The medal secured her a place in this week’s field.
Ko won the Australian and New Zealand women’s amateur stroke-play championships to become the first female to hold both titles in the same year. She also won the New Zealand Women’s Amateur match-play championship. At the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur at Rhode Island Country Club, she was co-medalist and reached the second round, losing to 2010 USA Curtis Cup member Stephanie Kono,
Then to start 2012, she won the Bing Lee/Samsung Women’s NSW Open to become the youngest person (age 14) to ever win a professional golf tour event.
“Yes, all of that has helped build my confidence,” she said. “I had some very good outcomes and I like the way I played.”
Apparently the vibe has continued as she has already won this year’s Australian Women’s Amateur Championship, becoming the first Kiwi in 23 years to win the title.
 PRACTISED HARD
“I felt good coming over here,” said Ko, who arrived in Los Angeles on June 26 before working her way to Wisconsin. “I practised hard back home, I was hitting it good and I’ve been hitting it good here this week.”
Aside from the case of first-hole jitters, Ko settled into a rhythmic flow of golf early. She hit every fairway and green in regulation and two-putted for par through the first 10 holes.
The round is better appreciated by the fact that this American experience is all relatively new to Ko.
“We don’t have many courses like this in New Zealand,” she said. “The rough looks about the same, but it’s rather sticky and a bit harder to play from.”
 MICHELLE WIE AUTOGRAPH
Ko, who will also play next month’s U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Country Club in Cleveland, Ohio, handles herself well beyond her 15 years, but she is still a girl. She admitted that the growing crowds over the past few days were a bit intimidating, as was the site of the putting green for some reason. She also gathered up the gumption to ask her idol, Michelle Wie, for an autograph on Tuesday.
Ko, though, did not engage Wie about Wie’s alma mater, Stanford University, which is where Ko would like to attend after three more years of schooling in New Zealand.
“She was very nice,” Ko said, “but we didn’t talk about school.”
The way Ko’s round went on Thursday, maybe she will have another chance as the week unfolds.
+Stuart Hall is a North Carolina-based freelance writer whose work has previously appeared on USGA websites.