CANADIAN IS LOOKING SHARP AS SYMETRA CLASSIC LEADER
FROM THE LPGA SYMETRA TOUR WEBSITE
Canadian Alena Sharp made a surge up the leaderboard on Friday to take a two-shot lead heading into the final round at the Symetra Classic. Sharp is bogey-free so far this week, carding three birdies on the first day followed by four more on Friday to take the lead at 7-under par. She holds a two stroke lead over UCLA alum Tiffany Joh and Michigan State’s Laura Kueny.
Sharp, who also plays part-time on the Cactus and LPGA Tours, put herself in contention earlier this year at the VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club in Arizona but finished second to Jaclyn Sweeney.
Sharp has yet to make a cut in four starts this year on the LPGA Tour, but a few adjustments to her swing last week might be the key to earning her first-career Symetra Tour win.
“I just started a new swing move last week and have just been working on that,” said Sharp. “I’m doing more follow through than backswing so I just have a lot of energy going through the target and it’s really straightened my shots out. I’m putting well, I haven’t missed many greens and if I have, I’m putting. It’s been really good, consistent.”
The par-5 16th hole has played in Joh’s favor this week as she carded her second eagle on the hole during Friday’s round. With two bogeys and two birdies through 15 holes, Joh’s eagle helped her jump up the leaderboard to sit a tie for second. Having only played the Raintree Country Club just this week, she says she felt comfortable placing the ball where it needs to be on the hole.
“It was really the 16th hole that saved me today but other than that I was hitting it alright,” said Joh on her round. “I think it was playing a little harder today because the winds were very switchy.
“But the 16th hole, you don’t even have to really hit driver off the tee, you just have to hit something that goes 220 so I just hit three wood,” said Joh. “It’s all placement on that hole, you just have to keep it left of the bunker then it will take that hill. I had about a 217 yard downhill shot so I just took 5-wood and told myself not to chunk it and I didn’t. Then I hit it to about 6-feet and made that for eagle.”
Kueny’s name has only touched the leaderboard a few times throughout her career, owning only one top-10 finish during her four-years on the Road to the LPGA. But this week, she has found consistency in her game that has kept her only a few strokes off the leader’s pace.
“It feels great to be up there,” said Kueny. “It’s been a struggle since wrist surgery two years ago. I finally feel like my game is finally coming back together. Whatever happens, happens tomorrow. I’m just very excited to have the opportunity to win. God will take care of it.”
Norway native and LPGA Tour rookie Marita Engzelius sits three strokes behind Sharp after carding a 3-under 69 on Friday, taking her two-day total to 4-under par.
Olivia Jordan-Higgins, the only Brit in the field, missed the cut by one shot with scores of 73 and 76 for 149.
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Canadian Alena Sharp made a surge up the leaderboard on Friday to take a two-shot lead heading into the final round at the Symetra Classic. Sharp is bogey-free so far this week, carding three birdies on the first day followed by four more on Friday to take the lead at 7-under par. She holds a two stroke lead over UCLA alum Tiffany Joh and Michigan State’s Laura Kueny.
Sharp, who also plays part-time on the Cactus and LPGA Tours, put herself in contention earlier this year at the VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club in Arizona but finished second to Jaclyn Sweeney.
Sharp has yet to make a cut in four starts this year on the LPGA Tour, but a few adjustments to her swing last week might be the key to earning her first-career Symetra Tour win.
“I just started a new swing move last week and have just been working on that,” said Sharp. “I’m doing more follow through than backswing so I just have a lot of energy going through the target and it’s really straightened my shots out. I’m putting well, I haven’t missed many greens and if I have, I’m putting. It’s been really good, consistent.”
The par-5 16th hole has played in Joh’s favor this week as she carded her second eagle on the hole during Friday’s round. With two bogeys and two birdies through 15 holes, Joh’s eagle helped her jump up the leaderboard to sit a tie for second. Having only played the Raintree Country Club just this week, she says she felt comfortable placing the ball where it needs to be on the hole.
“It was really the 16th hole that saved me today but other than that I was hitting it alright,” said Joh on her round. “I think it was playing a little harder today because the winds were very switchy.
“But the 16th hole, you don’t even have to really hit driver off the tee, you just have to hit something that goes 220 so I just hit three wood,” said Joh. “It’s all placement on that hole, you just have to keep it left of the bunker then it will take that hill. I had about a 217 yard downhill shot so I just took 5-wood and told myself not to chunk it and I didn’t. Then I hit it to about 6-feet and made that for eagle.”
Kueny’s name has only touched the leaderboard a few times throughout her career, owning only one top-10 finish during her four-years on the Road to the LPGA. But this week, she has found consistency in her game that has kept her only a few strokes off the leader’s pace.
“It feels great to be up there,” said Kueny. “It’s been a struggle since wrist surgery two years ago. I finally feel like my game is finally coming back together. Whatever happens, happens tomorrow. I’m just very excited to have the opportunity to win. God will take care of it.”
Norway native and LPGA Tour rookie Marita Engzelius sits three strokes behind Sharp after carding a 3-under 69 on Friday, taking her two-day total to 4-under par.
Olivia Jordan-Higgins, the only Brit in the field, missed the cut by one shot with scores of 73 and 76 for 149.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: Pro Ladies
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 8:18:00 am
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