RECARI, CREAMER, WALSHE SHARE LEAD AT HIGHLAND MEADOWS
FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
Three weeks remain until the 2013 Solheim Cup but the leaderboard on Friday at the Marathon Classic had a decidedly European-American feel.
Spaniard Beatriz Recari and Americans Paula Creamer and Alison Walshe are tied for the second-round lead at 8-under-par after shooting rounds of 65, 68 and 69 respectively in Friday’s second round at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.
Temperatures soared into the 90s for a second straight day in northwest Ohio but the heat didn’t feel nearly as oppressive during Friday’s second round thanks to winds that gusted up to 25 mph throughout the day. The wind also made for slightly more difficult scoring conditions, although that didn’t appear to bother Recari.
Recari’s 6-under 65 was the low round of the day and tied for the low round of the week. There were a few ups and downs for the 26-year-old in her round as she tallied six birdies, two bogeys and one eagle en route to taking a share of the second-round lead. But overall she seemed quite pleased with the results.
“My round was really, really good,” Recari said. “I started with a good par save on the 1st hole where I laid up. I was on the left in the rough and I had a tree blocking it, and I laid up short and good approach shots, and then a 15‑footer for par. So that was good mojo and good way to start with a positive feeling.”
Creamer followed up her impressive opening-round 66 with a 3-under 68 on Friday. While she wasn’t able to record quite as many birdies in Friday’s second round, Creamer was pleased with how she performed in what she described as a “different golf course.”
“It played a little bit harder out there today,” Creamer said. “You know, the breeze definitely was picking up. I know in the morning it was pretty dead yesterday. A little bit of breeze in the afternoon. But it was a different golf course today. It was getting a little bit firmer and some of the pin placements were a little tougher than they were yesterday, so a little bit harder to get close to the hole.”
(Galway-born) Walshe, who was the first-round leader at 6-under-par, delivered her second straight round in the 60s. She finished up late in the afternoon when most of the second wave of players battled the worst of the windy conditions. The Westford, Mass. native sank a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to grab a share of the lead at 8-under par.
“It was obviously a nice way to finish,” said Walshe. “Any birdie, I'll take it. It's good. To do it on the last hole was nice to have a little momentum overnight and going into tomorrow. At the same time, ties me with the lead, so it was kind of important.”
The fourth-year LPGA Tour member is playing for her first-career victory but says she won’t get ahead of herself just yet. Walshe will try to keep the images of hoisting her first LPGA Tour trophy out of her mind until the end on Sunday.
“It's definitely another day away,” said Walshe. “(Right now) I'm thinking about what I'm going to eat. On Sunday, if I'm in that position coming down the last through holes I'll think about it. I'm not going to think about it yet.”
Walshe also won’t be thinking about any Solheim Cup contention this week. While her co-leaders Creamer and Recari are expected to be on their respective teams for next month’s Solheim Cup, Walshe will have to wait at least two years until she’ll have an opportunity to earn the honour of wearing the red, white and blue at the event. Walshe was born in Ireland and moved to the U.S. when she was three. Under the current rules that disqualifies her from being eligible for the U.S. Solheim Cup Team but the rules are changing for the 2015 event.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Being born in Ireland did not stop the USA picking her to play for them in the 2008 Curtis Cup match at St Andrews!
Six American players who are currently ranked in the top-12 in U.S. Solheim Cup Team points are in good position to earn points this week with only two chances left on the schedule. U.S. Solheim Cup Team Captain Meg Mallon arrived onsite at Highland Meadows on Friday to continue her scouting for her two captain’s picks.
During Saturday’s “Moving Day” all eyes will likely be on Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park. After coming up short in her bid to record a fourth straight LPGA victory last week at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in Canada, Park has once again put herself in great position to capture win No. 7 of the season.
Park fired a 2-under 69 on Friday and sits in a tie for fifth place at 6-under-par with 2013 LPGA Tour rookie Chie Arimura and No. 1 ranked amateur Lydia Ko.
Defending champion So Yeon Ryu has also kept herself in contention to deliver a second straight victory in Toledo. Rounds of 68 and 69 have put Ryu in a tie for eighth at 5-under-par with Lexi Thompson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff.
Iron woman takes a breather:
Beatriz Recari earned the nickname “Iron Woman” out on the LPGA Tour due to the fact that it seemed Recari never took a week off. Recari played in all 27 events last season and she kept that streak alive through the first 10 events of this season before taking a week off during the Pure Silk Bahamas event in May.
And last week Recari decided not to play in the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in order to give herself some rest. And after shooting 69-65, which put her in a tie for the second-round lead at this week’s Marathon Classic, it appears that the rest has only helped the 26-year-old Spaniard.
“I took time off because I wasn't feeling 100%,” Recari said. “It was something that had bothered me for more than a month, so I decided to take the time necessary.
“I always said it was a joke with Iron Woman. I am not going to play every week if I don't feel like I can perform at my best. I didn't feel like I could, so I decided to take a week off. It was hard for me, but I took some days off to recover physically.
"I did, and I'm feeling match better. I made sure the days leading into this week that I practised really well and with quality, and I'm feeling good.”
Recari saw another streak come to an end at her last event, the U.S. Women’s Open. Recari had not missed a cut for 46 consecutive events prior to shooting 81-71 at Sebonack Golf Club last month to miss the cut by two shots.
But Recari isn’t going to dwell on the fact that she wasn’t able to keep the streak going.
“I would have loved to keep continuing and it was a disappointment not to make it,” Recari said. “I played good round on Friday, just not the first round. But I have had some time to reflect, and I am actually pleased that it happened because it was a good lesson that I had to learn.
“I took some positives out of it and I decided that it's no pressure. If I have to start from zero again, I will start from zero. I always go out there and do my best, regardless of the result.”
While memories of 60 danced in her head…Paula Creamer knows that she’s capable of shooting a low round at Highland Meadows Golf Club. All she has to do is look back at her career-low 60 she shot in the first round here in Toledo in 2008 for a reminder of that.
And after shooting a 68 on Friday to sit in a tie for the second-round lead at 8-under-par with Beatriz Recari, Creamer admitted that she does draw upon the success she’s had at this golf course each and every time that she plays it.
“That was an awesome round,” Creamer said of her 60. “I think yesterday I had a ton of opportunities to go low; today I did as well. Obviously a little bit different, but a 60 anywhere is a good score.
“Do I feel like I can do it again? Sure. Why not? It was fun doing it.”
Creamer’s past experience on this golf course also helped on a day like Friday when the breeze picked up and conditions weren’t quite as ideal for scoring as they were in Thursday’s first round. Having played this course numerous times, the 26-year-old Creamer said that she’s learned how to manage the various conditions.
“You know when to step on the gas and when not to,” Creamer said. “When you get a rhythm going on out here it kind of takes care of itself. Experience in any case takes care of the issues that you have out there. Just being confident. I have so much confidence out here, and the fans have been so great over the years. I kind of feel like I have a little extra bonus with them in my back pocket.”
Surprise! Inbee in the mix: After failing to win her fourth-consecutive LPGA Tour event last week at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park wanted to regroup with a certain part of her game that always seems to be her strength: her putting.
Park said last week she had a tough time with the green speeds in Waterloo, Ontario, but she’s feeling back to her old self at Highland Meadows.
“I didn't have a really good start,” said Park. “I started with bogey today, but I really played well rest of the day. I'm putting really good this week. My putting has gotten a lot better than last week, so that's really a good positive to take on.”
Park shot rounds of 67-69 the first two days of the Marathon Classic this week and is currently two shots off the lead at 6-under par.
“Still working a little bit on my swing,” said Park. “I guess I see progress a little bit, so on the weekend hopefully I hit it a little bit better. I mean, it was a tough day. Just grinded for pars. The last two birdies felt like heaven. Felt really good.”
Park already has six wins this season and is no stranger to finding herself near the top of the leaderboard with a couple rounds remaining. And this week, like many others, she’s in great position to make another run at lucky No. 7.
Only two times this year has Park won after holding the second-round lead. In the majority of her victories this season, she has come from behind and used the weekend to seal the deal.
PART OF INTERVIEW WITH US SOLHEIM CUP CAPTAIN MEG MALLON
Q. Talk about what it's going to be like to make your picks on the green at St. Andrews (at the Ricoh Women's British Open)
MEG MALLON: Yeah, I think my perfect scenario would be is if Inbee Park is in the lead going into Sunday and then an American player wins the British Open on Sunday so all the media is there. Then we announce the Solheim Cup team and go right into the Solheim Cup. I think that would be my ideal scenario.
Yeah, how thrilling to be in the home of golf and have the women's greatest stage for the British Open, and then two hours after the last putt drops we select our teams. It's going to be great. I hope. (Laughter.)
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71) Players from US unless stated
134 Beatriz Recari (Spain) 69 65, Paula Creamer 66 68, Alison Walshe 65 69
135 Jacqui Concolin 67 68
136 Chie Arimura (Japan) 69 67, Lydia Ko (NZ) (amateur) 69 67, Inbee Park (South Koea) 67 69
137 Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England) 69 68, Su Yeon Rhy (South Korea) 68 69, Lexi Thompson 66 71
SELECTED OTHER SCORES
142 Becky Morgan (Wales) 71 71 (T40)
144 Laura Davies (England) 72 72 (T65)
MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)
149 Karen Stupples (England) 71 78
151 Felicity Johnson (England) 76 75
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
152 Janice Moodie (Scotland) 75 77
Three weeks remain until the 2013 Solheim Cup but the leaderboard on Friday at the Marathon Classic had a decidedly European-American feel.
Spaniard Beatriz Recari and Americans Paula Creamer and Alison Walshe are tied for the second-round lead at 8-under-par after shooting rounds of 65, 68 and 69 respectively in Friday’s second round at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.
Temperatures soared into the 90s for a second straight day in northwest Ohio but the heat didn’t feel nearly as oppressive during Friday’s second round thanks to winds that gusted up to 25 mph throughout the day. The wind also made for slightly more difficult scoring conditions, although that didn’t appear to bother Recari.
Recari’s 6-under 65 was the low round of the day and tied for the low round of the week. There were a few ups and downs for the 26-year-old in her round as she tallied six birdies, two bogeys and one eagle en route to taking a share of the second-round lead. But overall she seemed quite pleased with the results.
“My round was really, really good,” Recari said. “I started with a good par save on the 1st hole where I laid up. I was on the left in the rough and I had a tree blocking it, and I laid up short and good approach shots, and then a 15‑footer for par. So that was good mojo and good way to start with a positive feeling.”
Creamer followed up her impressive opening-round 66 with a 3-under 68 on Friday. While she wasn’t able to record quite as many birdies in Friday’s second round, Creamer was pleased with how she performed in what she described as a “different golf course.”
“It played a little bit harder out there today,” Creamer said. “You know, the breeze definitely was picking up. I know in the morning it was pretty dead yesterday. A little bit of breeze in the afternoon. But it was a different golf course today. It was getting a little bit firmer and some of the pin placements were a little tougher than they were yesterday, so a little bit harder to get close to the hole.”
(Galway-born) Walshe, who was the first-round leader at 6-under-par, delivered her second straight round in the 60s. She finished up late in the afternoon when most of the second wave of players battled the worst of the windy conditions. The Westford, Mass. native sank a six-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to grab a share of the lead at 8-under par.
“It was obviously a nice way to finish,” said Walshe. “Any birdie, I'll take it. It's good. To do it on the last hole was nice to have a little momentum overnight and going into tomorrow. At the same time, ties me with the lead, so it was kind of important.”
The fourth-year LPGA Tour member is playing for her first-career victory but says she won’t get ahead of herself just yet. Walshe will try to keep the images of hoisting her first LPGA Tour trophy out of her mind until the end on Sunday.
“It's definitely another day away,” said Walshe. “(Right now) I'm thinking about what I'm going to eat. On Sunday, if I'm in that position coming down the last through holes I'll think about it. I'm not going to think about it yet.”
Walshe also won’t be thinking about any Solheim Cup contention this week. While her co-leaders Creamer and Recari are expected to be on their respective teams for next month’s Solheim Cup, Walshe will have to wait at least two years until she’ll have an opportunity to earn the honour of wearing the red, white and blue at the event. Walshe was born in Ireland and moved to the U.S. when she was three. Under the current rules that disqualifies her from being eligible for the U.S. Solheim Cup Team but the rules are changing for the 2015 event.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Being born in Ireland did not stop the USA picking her to play for them in the 2008 Curtis Cup match at St Andrews!
Six American players who are currently ranked in the top-12 in U.S. Solheim Cup Team points are in good position to earn points this week with only two chances left on the schedule. U.S. Solheim Cup Team Captain Meg Mallon arrived onsite at Highland Meadows on Friday to continue her scouting for her two captain’s picks.
During Saturday’s “Moving Day” all eyes will likely be on Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park. After coming up short in her bid to record a fourth straight LPGA victory last week at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in Canada, Park has once again put herself in great position to capture win No. 7 of the season.
Park fired a 2-under 69 on Friday and sits in a tie for fifth place at 6-under-par with 2013 LPGA Tour rookie Chie Arimura and No. 1 ranked amateur Lydia Ko.
Defending champion So Yeon Ryu has also kept herself in contention to deliver a second straight victory in Toledo. Rounds of 68 and 69 have put Ryu in a tie for eighth at 5-under-par with Lexi Thompson and Jodi Ewart Shadoff.
Iron woman takes a breather:
Beatriz Recari earned the nickname “Iron Woman” out on the LPGA Tour due to the fact that it seemed Recari never took a week off. Recari played in all 27 events last season and she kept that streak alive through the first 10 events of this season before taking a week off during the Pure Silk Bahamas event in May.
And last week Recari decided not to play in the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in order to give herself some rest. And after shooting 69-65, which put her in a tie for the second-round lead at this week’s Marathon Classic, it appears that the rest has only helped the 26-year-old Spaniard.
“I took time off because I wasn't feeling 100%,” Recari said. “It was something that had bothered me for more than a month, so I decided to take the time necessary.
“I always said it was a joke with Iron Woman. I am not going to play every week if I don't feel like I can perform at my best. I didn't feel like I could, so I decided to take a week off. It was hard for me, but I took some days off to recover physically.
"I did, and I'm feeling match better. I made sure the days leading into this week that I practised really well and with quality, and I'm feeling good.”
Recari saw another streak come to an end at her last event, the U.S. Women’s Open. Recari had not missed a cut for 46 consecutive events prior to shooting 81-71 at Sebonack Golf Club last month to miss the cut by two shots.
But Recari isn’t going to dwell on the fact that she wasn’t able to keep the streak going.
“I would have loved to keep continuing and it was a disappointment not to make it,” Recari said. “I played good round on Friday, just not the first round. But I have had some time to reflect, and I am actually pleased that it happened because it was a good lesson that I had to learn.
“I took some positives out of it and I decided that it's no pressure. If I have to start from zero again, I will start from zero. I always go out there and do my best, regardless of the result.”
While memories of 60 danced in her head…Paula Creamer knows that she’s capable of shooting a low round at Highland Meadows Golf Club. All she has to do is look back at her career-low 60 she shot in the first round here in Toledo in 2008 for a reminder of that.
And after shooting a 68 on Friday to sit in a tie for the second-round lead at 8-under-par with Beatriz Recari, Creamer admitted that she does draw upon the success she’s had at this golf course each and every time that she plays it.
“That was an awesome round,” Creamer said of her 60. “I think yesterday I had a ton of opportunities to go low; today I did as well. Obviously a little bit different, but a 60 anywhere is a good score.
“Do I feel like I can do it again? Sure. Why not? It was fun doing it.”
Creamer’s past experience on this golf course also helped on a day like Friday when the breeze picked up and conditions weren’t quite as ideal for scoring as they were in Thursday’s first round. Having played this course numerous times, the 26-year-old Creamer said that she’s learned how to manage the various conditions.
“You know when to step on the gas and when not to,” Creamer said. “When you get a rhythm going on out here it kind of takes care of itself. Experience in any case takes care of the issues that you have out there. Just being confident. I have so much confidence out here, and the fans have been so great over the years. I kind of feel like I have a little extra bonus with them in my back pocket.”
Surprise! Inbee in the mix: After failing to win her fourth-consecutive LPGA Tour event last week at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic, Rolex Rankings No. 1 Inbee Park wanted to regroup with a certain part of her game that always seems to be her strength: her putting.
Park said last week she had a tough time with the green speeds in Waterloo, Ontario, but she’s feeling back to her old self at Highland Meadows.
“I didn't have a really good start,” said Park. “I started with bogey today, but I really played well rest of the day. I'm putting really good this week. My putting has gotten a lot better than last week, so that's really a good positive to take on.”
Park shot rounds of 67-69 the first two days of the Marathon Classic this week and is currently two shots off the lead at 6-under par.
“Still working a little bit on my swing,” said Park. “I guess I see progress a little bit, so on the weekend hopefully I hit it a little bit better. I mean, it was a tough day. Just grinded for pars. The last two birdies felt like heaven. Felt really good.”
Park already has six wins this season and is no stranger to finding herself near the top of the leaderboard with a couple rounds remaining. And this week, like many others, she’s in great position to make another run at lucky No. 7.
Only two times this year has Park won after holding the second-round lead. In the majority of her victories this season, she has come from behind and used the weekend to seal the deal.
PART OF INTERVIEW WITH US SOLHEIM CUP CAPTAIN MEG MALLON
Q. Talk about what it's going to be like to make your picks on the green at St. Andrews (at the Ricoh Women's British Open)
MEG MALLON: Yeah, I think my perfect scenario would be is if Inbee Park is in the lead going into Sunday and then an American player wins the British Open on Sunday so all the media is there. Then we announce the Solheim Cup team and go right into the Solheim Cup. I think that would be my ideal scenario.
Yeah, how thrilling to be in the home of golf and have the women's greatest stage for the British Open, and then two hours after the last putt drops we select our teams. It's going to be great. I hope. (Laughter.)
SECOND-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 142 (2x71) Players from US unless stated
134 Beatriz Recari (Spain) 69 65, Paula Creamer 66 68, Alison Walshe 65 69
135 Jacqui Concolin 67 68
136 Chie Arimura (Japan) 69 67, Lydia Ko (NZ) (amateur) 69 67, Inbee Park (South Koea) 67 69
137 Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England) 69 68, Su Yeon Rhy (South Korea) 68 69, Lexi Thompson 66 71
SELECTED OTHER SCORES
142 Becky Morgan (Wales) 71 71 (T40)
144 Laura Davies (England) 72 72 (T65)
MISSED THE CUT (144 and better qualified)
149 Karen Stupples (England) 71 78
151 Felicity Johnson (England) 76 75
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
152 Janice Moodie (Scotland) 75 77
Labels: LPGA TOUR
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