KONGKRAPHAN LEADS IN SYMETRA TOUR EVENT
FROM THE LPGA SYMETRA TOUR WEBSITE
P K Kongkraphan’s signature smile was beaming bright after the completion of her second-round as she fired her second consecutive 4-under 68 to take the lead at the Northeast Delta Dental International.
The third year Symetra Tour member from Thailand notched five birdies and one bogey to find herself in the hunt to record her first victory on the Road to the LPGA.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
136 P K Kongkraphan (Thailand) 68 68
137 Kim Kaufman (US) 68 69, Christine Song (US) 68 69
138 Isabelle Boineau (France) 70 68, Cydney Clanton) 68 70
139 Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Channel Islands, UK) 71 68, Jean Reynolds (US) 66 73
140 Lindy Duncan (US) 70 70, Michelle Shin (US) 70 70
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
The combination of cooler temperatures and crisp iron shots made for the perfect day for Kongkraphan who made her first birdie of the day at the par-5 second. She then recorded two additional birdies at the par-4 fifth and par-4 seventh.
“My irons are very good and the tee-shot was so well today,” said Kongkraphan. “The weather is perfect, yesterday was a little hot. Everything, the weather, the shot, everything is perfect today.”
The perfect day would continue for the Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand native with a birdie at the par-4 14th, before her first hiccup of the day came with a bogey at the par-4 15th. Kongkraphan wasted little time recovering as she made her final birdie of the day at the par-3 17th.
Despite hitting 17 greens during the second round, Kongkraphan struggled with 30 putts. As Kongkraphan heads into tomorrow’s final-round with a 1-stroke lead over Christine Song and Kim Kaufman, she admitted a lower score is possible if more putts find the hole
“I hit the ball so well today and solid,” said Kongkraphan. “I hit my approaches on the par-4 to three feet two or three times today and I didn’t make many putts. If I make many putts the score is going to be lower.”
As Kongkraphan looks to improve on a career-best tied for fourth finish which came at this year’s Four Winds Invitational, she admitted that focus will be just the component she needs to pull out the long-awaited victory.
“I just need to focus on the routine,” said Kongkraphan. “Just keep my head down and keep going, play like first and second round.”
While Kongkprahan has yet to make a trip to the winner’s circle on the Symetra Tour, nipping on her heels heading into the final round are two of this year’s nine tournament winners.
Kaufman, who won the Island Resort Championship, had a blimish free scorecard on Saturday as she fired a 3-under 69 to stand 7-under for the tournament.
“Today was great,” said Kaufman. Actually, I think I played better today than yesterday, I just didn’t make any bogeys. It was smooth and easy and I rolled-in a few and left a few out there. I’m pretty happy with the score of 69.”
Also tied with Kaufman is 2013 Guardian Retirement Championship winner, Song. The Fullerton, Calif. native followed-up a first-round 4-under 68 with a second-round 3-under 69.
“I was hitting it decent until I got to the back-nine,” said Song. “Then I was getting up-and-down so I think that’s what saved me today.”
A total of 75 players made the 36-hole cut which fell at 4-over.
Miss Independent… Kim Kaufman has wasted little time after recently turning professional as she won her first Symetra Tour event and moved inside the top-10 on the Volvik Race for the Card in only her third start on Tour. While most new pros might want to lean on a caddie for some extra advice, Kaufman is just the opposite as her independent side takes centre stage on the golf course.
“It depends if my friends come out or my dad comes, we’ll kind of go back-and-forth,” said Kaufman on her caddie situation. “I actually don’t mind it at all because even when I do have a caddie, I am super independent. They are pretty much the bag carrier so it doesn’t bother me too much.”
While the Texas Tech graduate admitted not having a caddie can make things a bit lonely, she was paired alongside Cydney Clanton in the final group of the morning wave of tee-times on Saturday, allowing the duo to frequently chat in-between golf shots.
“It is sometimes,” said Kaufman on the enjoyment of having someone to converse with during a round. “Everyone is different but I think it does keep you relaxed a bit. We have a lot in common, we aren’t great friends but we’ve become better friends and I do, I like that. When you don’t have a caddie it can be kind of lonely out there.”
Everything Happens for a Reason… In life, they say everything happens for a reason and for Cydney Clanton, this old adage provides the perfect summary for her week at last month’s Four Winds Invitational.
After playing collegiate golf at Auburn University, Clanton finished tied for ninth at the 2011 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament which earned her Priority Category 11 for the 2012 LPGA season. During her rookie campaign on the LPGA Tour, Clanton recorded a tie for 19th at the season-opening event in Australia, but the struggles would quickly began to compound as she went on to miss 11 cuts in the next 14 events.
This year on the LPGA Tour, Clanton’s status has only allowed her to compete in two tournaments, but she missed the cut at both. Due to her limited status on the LPGA Tour, Clanton has made the commitment to compete solely on the Symetra Tour for the remainder of the season.
While playing on the Road to the LPGA this season, Clanton got off to a quick start with a season-best tied for third finish at the VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club. After her impressive start, Clanton’s season began to quickly go downhill with a disqualification and two missed cuts in the next three events.
The difficult start to the season left the Concord, N.C. native questioning her future as a professional golfer.
“Last year I was a rookie on the LPGA and it wasn’t the year that I expected and that I wanted,” said Clanton. “I hit a pretty rough patch then starting out this year I had a really solid start but it still wasn’t quite the year. I felt like I had been working so hard and nothing was really coming for me.”
While debating her next professional move, Clanton stepped-up and won the Four Winds Invitational in dramatic fashion with a seven-hole playoff. The win not only helped boost Clanton’s confidence but further solidified that everything happens for a reason as she is in the right place competing on the Road to the LPGA.
“There were a few opportunities that opened up in coaching to give me the opportunity to maybe go that route but then I won in South Bend and now it’s like well, maybe all that work finally paid off and I am where I need to be,” said Clanton.
“It was just kind of a side thought, it was a few things that had happened then a few opportunities that came my way and it was like of like, is this what I need to be doing. South Bend was definitely the confirmation that this is where I need to be.”
Life as a Pro… After a decorated collegiate golf career at Duke University, Lindy Duncan has completely submerged herself into life as a professional golfer. Playing in only her third event on the Symetra Tour at this week’s Northeast Delta Dental International, Duncan admitted it has been a bit of a process to become acclimatised to the increased competition on the Road to the LPGA.
“It’s just been a process learning to play the pro tournaments, this is only my fourth pro tournament,” said Duncan. “I’m just learning how to be aggressive when I need to because out here if you shoot even-par, you kind of get lapped a little bit. It’s just been an adjustment period but overall I’m feeling confident about my game.”
In her first two starts on the Symetra Tour, Duncan has posted two top-16 finishes including a tied for tenth at the Decatur-Forsyth Classic. While Duncan has played in three events on Tour and recently competed in the U.S. Women’s Open, the weekly tournaments reminds her a bit of her days on the elite junior golf circuit, American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).
“I have been sharing houses with other players and that has been really different,” said Duncan. “It’s more like the AJGA than college golf. The AJGA is our junior circuit that goes week-to-week so it’s kind of like going back to the AJGA, very different than college golf.”
As Duncan becomes more familiar with life on the Road to the LPGA, she has a special someone by her side to maneuvre through this week’s Beaver Meadow Golf Course. The 2012 NGCA Player of the Year has her mom on her bag this week to help keep her calm.
“I’m hoping for the Florida ones she can get off of work because I love having her caddie, she is really fun,” said Duncan. “The funny thing is, she doesn’t play golf. She doesn’t know anything about golf but at the same time she knows a lot about my game. She was out there a couple times when I was getting flustered because I 3-putted and she was really calming. I wish she could do it forever.”
Tweet of the Day… After my round the little girl following me asked to buy me an ice cream. Absolutely precious... And delicious! Making me smile – Taylor Collins (@1taylorcollins)
P K Kongkraphan’s signature smile was beaming bright after the completion of her second-round as she fired her second consecutive 4-under 68 to take the lead at the Northeast Delta Dental International.
The third year Symetra Tour member from Thailand notched five birdies and one bogey to find herself in the hunt to record her first victory on the Road to the LPGA.
SECOND-ROUND TOTALS
Par 144 (2x72)
136 P K Kongkraphan (Thailand) 68 68
137 Kim Kaufman (US) 68 69, Christine Song (US) 68 69
138 Isabelle Boineau (France) 70 68, Cydney Clanton) 68 70
139 Olivia Jordan-Higgins (Channel Islands, UK) 71 68, Jean Reynolds (US) 66 73
140 Lindy Duncan (US) 70 70, Michelle Shin (US) 70 70
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
The combination of cooler temperatures and crisp iron shots made for the perfect day for Kongkraphan who made her first birdie of the day at the par-5 second. She then recorded two additional birdies at the par-4 fifth and par-4 seventh.
“My irons are very good and the tee-shot was so well today,” said Kongkraphan. “The weather is perfect, yesterday was a little hot. Everything, the weather, the shot, everything is perfect today.”
The perfect day would continue for the Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand native with a birdie at the par-4 14th, before her first hiccup of the day came with a bogey at the par-4 15th. Kongkraphan wasted little time recovering as she made her final birdie of the day at the par-3 17th.
Despite hitting 17 greens during the second round, Kongkraphan struggled with 30 putts. As Kongkraphan heads into tomorrow’s final-round with a 1-stroke lead over Christine Song and Kim Kaufman, she admitted a lower score is possible if more putts find the hole
“I hit the ball so well today and solid,” said Kongkraphan. “I hit my approaches on the par-4 to three feet two or three times today and I didn’t make many putts. If I make many putts the score is going to be lower.”
As Kongkraphan looks to improve on a career-best tied for fourth finish which came at this year’s Four Winds Invitational, she admitted that focus will be just the component she needs to pull out the long-awaited victory.
“I just need to focus on the routine,” said Kongkraphan. “Just keep my head down and keep going, play like first and second round.”
While Kongkprahan has yet to make a trip to the winner’s circle on the Symetra Tour, nipping on her heels heading into the final round are two of this year’s nine tournament winners.
Kaufman, who won the Island Resort Championship, had a blimish free scorecard on Saturday as she fired a 3-under 69 to stand 7-under for the tournament.
“Today was great,” said Kaufman. Actually, I think I played better today than yesterday, I just didn’t make any bogeys. It was smooth and easy and I rolled-in a few and left a few out there. I’m pretty happy with the score of 69.”
Also tied with Kaufman is 2013 Guardian Retirement Championship winner, Song. The Fullerton, Calif. native followed-up a first-round 4-under 68 with a second-round 3-under 69.
“I was hitting it decent until I got to the back-nine,” said Song. “Then I was getting up-and-down so I think that’s what saved me today.”
A total of 75 players made the 36-hole cut which fell at 4-over.
Miss Independent… Kim Kaufman has wasted little time after recently turning professional as she won her first Symetra Tour event and moved inside the top-10 on the Volvik Race for the Card in only her third start on Tour. While most new pros might want to lean on a caddie for some extra advice, Kaufman is just the opposite as her independent side takes centre stage on the golf course.
“It depends if my friends come out or my dad comes, we’ll kind of go back-and-forth,” said Kaufman on her caddie situation. “I actually don’t mind it at all because even when I do have a caddie, I am super independent. They are pretty much the bag carrier so it doesn’t bother me too much.”
While the Texas Tech graduate admitted not having a caddie can make things a bit lonely, she was paired alongside Cydney Clanton in the final group of the morning wave of tee-times on Saturday, allowing the duo to frequently chat in-between golf shots.
“It is sometimes,” said Kaufman on the enjoyment of having someone to converse with during a round. “Everyone is different but I think it does keep you relaxed a bit. We have a lot in common, we aren’t great friends but we’ve become better friends and I do, I like that. When you don’t have a caddie it can be kind of lonely out there.”
Everything Happens for a Reason… In life, they say everything happens for a reason and for Cydney Clanton, this old adage provides the perfect summary for her week at last month’s Four Winds Invitational.
After playing collegiate golf at Auburn University, Clanton finished tied for ninth at the 2011 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament which earned her Priority Category 11 for the 2012 LPGA season. During her rookie campaign on the LPGA Tour, Clanton recorded a tie for 19th at the season-opening event in Australia, but the struggles would quickly began to compound as she went on to miss 11 cuts in the next 14 events.
This year on the LPGA Tour, Clanton’s status has only allowed her to compete in two tournaments, but she missed the cut at both. Due to her limited status on the LPGA Tour, Clanton has made the commitment to compete solely on the Symetra Tour for the remainder of the season.
While playing on the Road to the LPGA this season, Clanton got off to a quick start with a season-best tied for third finish at the VisitMesa.com Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club. After her impressive start, Clanton’s season began to quickly go downhill with a disqualification and two missed cuts in the next three events.
The difficult start to the season left the Concord, N.C. native questioning her future as a professional golfer.
“Last year I was a rookie on the LPGA and it wasn’t the year that I expected and that I wanted,” said Clanton. “I hit a pretty rough patch then starting out this year I had a really solid start but it still wasn’t quite the year. I felt like I had been working so hard and nothing was really coming for me.”
While debating her next professional move, Clanton stepped-up and won the Four Winds Invitational in dramatic fashion with a seven-hole playoff. The win not only helped boost Clanton’s confidence but further solidified that everything happens for a reason as she is in the right place competing on the Road to the LPGA.
“There were a few opportunities that opened up in coaching to give me the opportunity to maybe go that route but then I won in South Bend and now it’s like well, maybe all that work finally paid off and I am where I need to be,” said Clanton.
“It was just kind of a side thought, it was a few things that had happened then a few opportunities that came my way and it was like of like, is this what I need to be doing. South Bend was definitely the confirmation that this is where I need to be.”
Life as a Pro… After a decorated collegiate golf career at Duke University, Lindy Duncan has completely submerged herself into life as a professional golfer. Playing in only her third event on the Symetra Tour at this week’s Northeast Delta Dental International, Duncan admitted it has been a bit of a process to become acclimatised to the increased competition on the Road to the LPGA.
“It’s just been a process learning to play the pro tournaments, this is only my fourth pro tournament,” said Duncan. “I’m just learning how to be aggressive when I need to because out here if you shoot even-par, you kind of get lapped a little bit. It’s just been an adjustment period but overall I’m feeling confident about my game.”
In her first two starts on the Symetra Tour, Duncan has posted two top-16 finishes including a tied for tenth at the Decatur-Forsyth Classic. While Duncan has played in three events on Tour and recently competed in the U.S. Women’s Open, the weekly tournaments reminds her a bit of her days on the elite junior golf circuit, American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).
“I have been sharing houses with other players and that has been really different,” said Duncan. “It’s more like the AJGA than college golf. The AJGA is our junior circuit that goes week-to-week so it’s kind of like going back to the AJGA, very different than college golf.”
As Duncan becomes more familiar with life on the Road to the LPGA, she has a special someone by her side to maneuvre through this week’s Beaver Meadow Golf Course. The 2012 NGCA Player of the Year has her mom on her bag this week to help keep her calm.
“I’m hoping for the Florida ones she can get off of work because I love having her caddie, she is really fun,” said Duncan. “The funny thing is, she doesn’t play golf. She doesn’t know anything about golf but at the same time she knows a lot about my game. She was out there a couple times when I was getting flustered because I 3-putted and she was really calming. I wish she could do it forever.”
Tweet of the Day… After my round the little girl following me asked to buy me an ice cream. Absolutely precious... And delicious! Making me smile – Taylor Collins (@1taylorcollins)
Labels: Pro Ladies
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