SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC REPORT AND FIRST-ROUND SCORES
LATE BOGEYS SCUPPER CATRIONA
MATTHEW'S CHANCE TO BREAK 70
FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
Jennifer Johnson shot her career-low round of 62 on Friday to take the first-round lead of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. Johnson carded 10 birdies and one bogey and tied the course record on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
She leads Japan’s Haru Nomura (-8, 63) by one shot. Two-time LPGA Tour winner Christina Kim shot her low round of the year and sits in solo third and two shots back.
Johnson feels at home this week altough her hometown of San Diego, California, is on the opposite coast over 3,000 miles away. The poa annua greens here at the Bay Course at Stockton Sea View Hotel are Golf Club are the same ones she used to play on at home growing up.
Poa annua, famous for being the grass of choice on the greens at Pebble Beach Golf Links, can be a bit bumpier at times than the more commonly used Bermuda or Bentgrass in the afternoon because the grass grows at different rates on the green in this strain.
But for Johnson, it was just like being back at home. She already had a 8-under 63 to her credit on this golf course in 2012, so it wasn’t a complete surprise when she fired a scintillating 9-under 62 Friday to tie the course record and break her personal best of 63.
“Just gave myself chances all day long, and that really helps on these greens when you hit it close because if not, you’re going to be hitting some bumps out there,” Johnson said.
It surely didn’t have an impact on Johnson. After a bogey on No. 8, she reeled off five straight birdies. Granted, three of those putts for birdie during that stretch were less than three feet, but there was the 50 foot bomb she hit on No. 11. From there she parred 14 and 15 before knocking in a birdie on 16. She got stars in her eyes at that point and had visions of 61 after knocking it to 12 feet on 17.
“On 17, that’s when I was 8 under, so I was trying to like beat my 63. Then I started getting a little nervous, because my goal was to get to like 10 under, but I only got to 9,” Johnson said.
“But like when you shoot something that you’ve never shot before, nerves are going to happen.”
They did. She left that putt on 17 three feet short but managed to calm herself and nail a seven-foot birdie on 18 to tie Laura Davie’s course record. And with only a one-shot lead heading into Saturday, she’ll need to keep her foot on the gas pedal in the second round.
“I mean the leaderboard is pretty packed, and there’s a lot of birdies and a lot more golf left, so I just gotta kind of stay in my own little world and just play my game,” Johnson said.
World No. 1 Inbee Park and seven-time LPGA Tour winner Na Yeon Choi are in a tie for fourth at 5-under par. Nine players are in a tie for sixth including No. 2 Stacy Lewis, No. 10 Michelle Wie and 2011 ShopRite LPGA Classic champion Brittany Lincicome. Defending champion Karrie Webb shot and opening 2-under 69 and is T27.
LUCK OF THE IRISH?
Na Yeon Choi watched the first round of The Memorial on the PGA Tour on Thursday and studied first-round leader Rory McIlroy’s swing. She said that the Irishman’s swing is so well connected and she’s most impressed with his rhythm.
Choi’s coach, Robin Symes, and caddie, David Jones, are both Ireland natives and know McIlroy from his junior days.
“Actually, last night I watched on TV, and Rory McIlroy he plays so well, and I watched the whole thing last night, and I got some good vibes from that and good thoughts from that,” said Choi.
“So even this morning when I doing warmup, I was kept thinking his swing rhythm and everything, and I think that helped me a lot out there. And hopefully I can see him like even tonight on TV.”
Choi was most likely disappointed to see McIlroy finish 6-over par on Friday but says she feels like she knows him from all of the stories she hears about him.
“Yeah, I’m very big fan of Rory,” said Choi. “He has a great swing, especially my coach, they grew up together when they were young, so I heard a lot of good stories from him, about him. So you know, I never met him, but it feels like we are good friends each other. And hopefully one day I will see him and meet him.”
STRONG STARTER
Michelle Wie’s goal all season has been to play more consistently and the 24-year old has done just that in her first 10 events in 2014. She continued her stellar play in the first round on Friday and posted a 4-under 67 and sits five shots off the lead. Wie opened with a 68 at last year’s event and went on to finish tied for ninth. She said she realizes the importance of getting off to a strong start in a three-day event.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Wie. “You kind of play and you kind of forget it’s a three day event. You forget it’s a Friday, not a Thursday, but you just go out there, I just went out there and tried to take advantage of shorter holes. It’s already the weekend, so it’s great to be in a good position already.”
Wie said she’s succeeding playing “shot-by-shot” golf and not looking too far ahead. But the Hawaiian said that she would love to notch win No. 2 of the year this week in New Jersey. The six-year LPGA Tour member has yet to record two wins in a single season in her career.
“It’d be awesome,” said Wie. “I feel like I’ve been really close and I’ve never won twice in a season. I won’t think too far ahead but just have fun out there.”
ROUND ONE GOES TO PARK
Day one of the battle royale for No. 1 between Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis and Lydia Ko went to Park. The world’s No. 1 for the last 59 weeks fired a 5-under 66 to best Lewis by 1 and Ko by 2. The race is pretty simple: if Lewis or Ko can beat Park and finish second or first, then No. 1 is theirs.
But Park didn’t make that easy Friday, bouncing back from a missed cut at the Airbus LPGA Classic Presented by JTBC to finish in a tie for 4th after the opening round.
Park doesn’t bother acting like she’s not paying attention either. She knows where they stand and she wants to remain No. 1. She said she doesn’t know the exact numbers but knows they can pass her with a win.
“It is very important, but I mean I try to have the fun before I try and think about the numbers or somebody trying to catch me.
"I try not to think so much about that, and I mean my main goal is to play well in the tournaments and strike the ball well, you know, and try to hole some putts,” Park said.
“And yeah, No. 1 is very important, but I mean it’s not everything.”
Catriona Matthew had three birdies in her one-under 70 - at the long third, sixth and long 18th. Back-to-back bogeys at the short 15th and 16th, robbed her of a score in the 60s.
Leading UK player is Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart Shadoff with a 69 and a share of 15th place.
Course record-holder Laura Davies is not going even to make the cut unless she shoots the lights out in Round 2. She is T120 on 75.
LEADERBOARD
Par 71 Players from USA unless stated
62 Jennifer Johnson
63 Haru Nomara (Japan)
64 Christina Kim
66 Na Yeon Choi (S Korea), Inbee Park (S Korea)
67 Brittany Lincicome, Jennifer Kirby (Canada), Gerina Piller, Michelle Wie, Chella Choi (S Korea), Sandra Gall (Germany), Sarah Kemp (Australia), Laura Diaz
SELECTED SCORES
68 Lydia Ko (NZ), Lindsey Wright (Australia), Caroline Westrup (Sweden), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England) (T15).
69 Karrie Webb (Australia), Becky Morgan (Wales), Azahara Munoz (Spain), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) (T27)
70 Belen Mozo (Spain), Catriona Matthew (Scotland), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Carlota Ciganda (Spain)
71 Felicity Johnson (England) (T63)
75 Laura Davies (England) (T120)
MATTHEW'S CHANCE TO BREAK 70
FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
Jennifer Johnson shot her career-low round of 62 on Friday to take the first-round lead of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. Johnson carded 10 birdies and one bogey and tied the course record on the Bay Course at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
She leads Japan’s Haru Nomura (-8, 63) by one shot. Two-time LPGA Tour winner Christina Kim shot her low round of the year and sits in solo third and two shots back.
Johnson feels at home this week altough her hometown of San Diego, California, is on the opposite coast over 3,000 miles away. The poa annua greens here at the Bay Course at Stockton Sea View Hotel are Golf Club are the same ones she used to play on at home growing up.
Poa annua, famous for being the grass of choice on the greens at Pebble Beach Golf Links, can be a bit bumpier at times than the more commonly used Bermuda or Bentgrass in the afternoon because the grass grows at different rates on the green in this strain.
But for Johnson, it was just like being back at home. She already had a 8-under 63 to her credit on this golf course in 2012, so it wasn’t a complete surprise when she fired a scintillating 9-under 62 Friday to tie the course record and break her personal best of 63.
“Just gave myself chances all day long, and that really helps on these greens when you hit it close because if not, you’re going to be hitting some bumps out there,” Johnson said.
It surely didn’t have an impact on Johnson. After a bogey on No. 8, she reeled off five straight birdies. Granted, three of those putts for birdie during that stretch were less than three feet, but there was the 50 foot bomb she hit on No. 11. From there she parred 14 and 15 before knocking in a birdie on 16. She got stars in her eyes at that point and had visions of 61 after knocking it to 12 feet on 17.
“On 17, that’s when I was 8 under, so I was trying to like beat my 63. Then I started getting a little nervous, because my goal was to get to like 10 under, but I only got to 9,” Johnson said.
“But like when you shoot something that you’ve never shot before, nerves are going to happen.”
They did. She left that putt on 17 three feet short but managed to calm herself and nail a seven-foot birdie on 18 to tie Laura Davie’s course record. And with only a one-shot lead heading into Saturday, she’ll need to keep her foot on the gas pedal in the second round.
“I mean the leaderboard is pretty packed, and there’s a lot of birdies and a lot more golf left, so I just gotta kind of stay in my own little world and just play my game,” Johnson said.
World No. 1 Inbee Park and seven-time LPGA Tour winner Na Yeon Choi are in a tie for fourth at 5-under par. Nine players are in a tie for sixth including No. 2 Stacy Lewis, No. 10 Michelle Wie and 2011 ShopRite LPGA Classic champion Brittany Lincicome. Defending champion Karrie Webb shot and opening 2-under 69 and is T27.
LUCK OF THE IRISH?
Na Yeon Choi watched the first round of The Memorial on the PGA Tour on Thursday and studied first-round leader Rory McIlroy’s swing. She said that the Irishman’s swing is so well connected and she’s most impressed with his rhythm.
Choi’s coach, Robin Symes, and caddie, David Jones, are both Ireland natives and know McIlroy from his junior days.
“Actually, last night I watched on TV, and Rory McIlroy he plays so well, and I watched the whole thing last night, and I got some good vibes from that and good thoughts from that,” said Choi.
“So even this morning when I doing warmup, I was kept thinking his swing rhythm and everything, and I think that helped me a lot out there. And hopefully I can see him like even tonight on TV.”
Choi was most likely disappointed to see McIlroy finish 6-over par on Friday but says she feels like she knows him from all of the stories she hears about him.
“Yeah, I’m very big fan of Rory,” said Choi. “He has a great swing, especially my coach, they grew up together when they were young, so I heard a lot of good stories from him, about him. So you know, I never met him, but it feels like we are good friends each other. And hopefully one day I will see him and meet him.”
STRONG STARTER
Michelle Wie’s goal all season has been to play more consistently and the 24-year old has done just that in her first 10 events in 2014. She continued her stellar play in the first round on Friday and posted a 4-under 67 and sits five shots off the lead. Wie opened with a 68 at last year’s event and went on to finish tied for ninth. She said she realizes the importance of getting off to a strong start in a three-day event.
“Yeah, for sure,” said Wie. “You kind of play and you kind of forget it’s a three day event. You forget it’s a Friday, not a Thursday, but you just go out there, I just went out there and tried to take advantage of shorter holes. It’s already the weekend, so it’s great to be in a good position already.”
Wie said she’s succeeding playing “shot-by-shot” golf and not looking too far ahead. But the Hawaiian said that she would love to notch win No. 2 of the year this week in New Jersey. The six-year LPGA Tour member has yet to record two wins in a single season in her career.
“It’d be awesome,” said Wie. “I feel like I’ve been really close and I’ve never won twice in a season. I won’t think too far ahead but just have fun out there.”
ROUND ONE GOES TO PARK
Day one of the battle royale for No. 1 between Inbee Park, Stacy Lewis and Lydia Ko went to Park. The world’s No. 1 for the last 59 weeks fired a 5-under 66 to best Lewis by 1 and Ko by 2. The race is pretty simple: if Lewis or Ko can beat Park and finish second or first, then No. 1 is theirs.
But Park didn’t make that easy Friday, bouncing back from a missed cut at the Airbus LPGA Classic Presented by JTBC to finish in a tie for 4th after the opening round.
Park doesn’t bother acting like she’s not paying attention either. She knows where they stand and she wants to remain No. 1. She said she doesn’t know the exact numbers but knows they can pass her with a win.
“It is very important, but I mean I try to have the fun before I try and think about the numbers or somebody trying to catch me.
"I try not to think so much about that, and I mean my main goal is to play well in the tournaments and strike the ball well, you know, and try to hole some putts,” Park said.
“And yeah, No. 1 is very important, but I mean it’s not everything.”
Catriona Matthew had three birdies in her one-under 70 - at the long third, sixth and long 18th. Back-to-back bogeys at the short 15th and 16th, robbed her of a score in the 60s.
Leading UK player is Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart Shadoff with a 69 and a share of 15th place.
Course record-holder Laura Davies is not going even to make the cut unless she shoots the lights out in Round 2. She is T120 on 75.
LEADERBOARD
Par 71 Players from USA unless stated
62 Jennifer Johnson
63 Haru Nomara (Japan)
64 Christina Kim
66 Na Yeon Choi (S Korea), Inbee Park (S Korea)
67 Brittany Lincicome, Jennifer Kirby (Canada), Gerina Piller, Michelle Wie, Chella Choi (S Korea), Sandra Gall (Germany), Sarah Kemp (Australia), Laura Diaz
SELECTED SCORES
68 Lydia Ko (NZ), Lindsey Wright (Australia), Caroline Westrup (Sweden), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England) (T15).
69 Karrie Webb (Australia), Becky Morgan (Wales), Azahara Munoz (Spain), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) (T27)
70 Belen Mozo (Spain), Catriona Matthew (Scotland), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Carlota Ciganda (Spain)
71 Felicity Johnson (England) (T63)
75 Laura Davies (England) (T120)
Labels: LPGA TOUR
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