LPGA – Surprises Up & Down the Board at the Women’s Australian Open
Aussies are dominating the Women’s Australian Open, the 1st in the LPGA 3-event fall Asia Swing.
The LPGA fall Asia Swing started with Aussies taking charge of the leaderboard. First Katherine Kirk and then Sara Jane Smith dominated the early rounds of the Women’s Australian Open.
Kirk grabbed the 1st round lead with a sizzling 8-under 65, then wasn’t able to deliver a matching 2nd round. Smith took over and at 9-under is holding a 1-shot lead going into the weekend.
Where are Minjee Lee and Su Oh, Australia’s golf Olympians, and Karrie Webb, who has mentored them all and who made her professional debut at the event in 1994? The past doesn’t predict the future in this game. Webb missed the cut and Lee and Oh are playing the weekend but lingering around in the middle of the pack.
Looking Down the Leaderboard
The much-anticipated battle between Lydia Ko and Ariya Jutanugarn will probably have to be rescheduled. At 2-under, Jutanugarn trails the lead by 7 and at even par Ko, perhaps distracted by her new off-course ventures – just made the cut on the number.
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Depending on your point of view, the Americans are either delivering a good show or they’re disappointing. Lizette Salas and Marissa Steen are sharing the 2nd slot on the board with Caroline Hedwall and Pornanong Phatlum. The quartette are 1 shot behind Sarah Jane Smith. Going into the 3rd round and they’re all probably dreaming of sugarplums and hoisting the Patricia Bridges Bowl.
Charley Hull and Brooke Henderson, who like Ko made the cut on the number. Barring a miracle or an upset these 2 hot shots probably don’t stand a chance of getting their hands on the Bowl this year.
Is that new claw grip working for Michelle Wie? It would appear to be. She recorded 27 putts in her 1st round and 28 in her 2nd. As a result, she’s going into the weekend at 5-under par, well ahead of Ko and Jutanugarn and getting a peek at the top of the board.
Related Story: Michelle Wie's New Claw Grip - Will It Help?
What’s Coming Up Next?
Hall of Famers Karrie Webb and Laura Davies will both be sitting out the weekend as will 3 of the Tour’s most promising rookies, Angel Yin, Madelene Sagstrom, and Mel Reid.
The wind is going to blow at Royal Adelaide this weekend, making for some complicated playing conditions. I’m looking for another shakeup or two in the leaderboard before the LPGA wraps up its stay in Australia and moves on to Chonburi, Thailand and the Siam Country Club for the Honda LPGA Thailand.
Next: Women's Australian Open Power Rankings
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