So Yeon Ruy Holds Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Lead

By Elizabeth Bethel | Aug 22, 2014

The London Hunt and Country Club took quite a beating on Thursday and Friday at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Ninth ranked So Yeon Ruy carded two spectacular rounds of 63 and 66, which set the pace and the tone for the Open. Ryu’s going into the weekend at fifteen-under par and five strokes ahead of her closest competitors, Danielle Kang, Anna Nordqvist and Na Yeon Choi, all at ten-under par. Overall, scores were running so low that even par wasn’t good enough to make the cut!

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So Yeon Ryu: A Closer Look

So Yeon Ryu has two wins, including the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open, and 36 top-10s to her credit. Ryu’s been full of great golf over the last two years, but it hasn’t translated into wins.

Since her win at the 2012 Jamie Farr Classic, Ryu has reeled off 27 top-10 finishes without a win. Twice through that stretch, she’s held a share of the lead after 36 holes but never the solo lead she enjoys heading into Saturday. Never has she opened a tournament like she has at the Canadian Women’s Open.

Ryu’s going into the weekend with 15 birdies, zero bogeys and a 36-hole record here at the Canadian Women’s Open – three shots better than this tournament’s ever seen before to this point. What’s her plan for Saturday and Sunday?

"I’m aiming for a bogey-free round all day four days, and I’m aiming for a really good win – So Yeon Ryu"

Challenging the Top of the Leaderboard

The London Hunt and Country Club is playing soft and giving up a lot of birdies this week. Ryu certainly has an edge on the competition but Anna Nordqvist, Na Yeon Choi and Danielle Kang aren’t ready yet to give her the win. Kang, who’s using her good friend Lydia Ko’s ball marker — the one Ko was putting well with — also carded a bogey-free Friday round and looks good for the weekend, as do Nordqvist and Choi.

Ryu and seven-time winner Choi are close friends and they’re both due a win. Neither has won since 2012, and Choi’s last win at the 2012 CME Group Titleholders came by two over Ryu in second.

Tenth ranked Nordqvist has been playing splendid golf this year. With six top-10s that include early season wins at the Honda LPGA Thailand and the Kia Classic, Nordqvist is having her best season ever and is consistently challenging the top of the board. I’m looking for her to do it again this weekend at the Canadian Open.

Jessica Korda’s Ace

Jessica Korda aced the 8th hole for her first hole-in-one on Tour. She used a baby cut 8-iron from 147 yards. How many does that make?

"Three, I had one when I was 8, one when I was 18, and the way I was going I thought the next one was going to be 28. Jessica Korda"

Here it is again, in case you missed it.

Stacy Lewis v Inbee Park v Lydia Ko

Inbee Park is going into the weekend at seven-under par and both Stacy Lewis and Lydia Ko are at five-under. What does this mean in the three-way battle for the top of the world rankings?

Inbee Park would go to No. 1 if:
• She wins and Lewis finishes in a four-way tie for second or worse.
• Finishes second and Stacy finishes 47th or worse and Lydia does not win.

Lydia Ko would go to No. 1 if:
• She wins and Stacy finishes in a three-way tie for second or worse.
• A second place finish won’t push Ko to 1.

But they’re all going to need some birdies and an eagle or two to catch So Yeon Ryu’s clubhouse lead.

Three To Watch

Rookie Xi Yu Lin is going into the weekend at eight-under par and a share of sixth.

Sixteen-year old Canadian Amateur Brooke Henderson, likely the next teen phenom in the pipeline, starts Saturday at three-under par.

LET teen star Charley Hull will start Saturday just above the cut line, at one-under par.

Let’s see what the youngsters can do with the weekend.

Saturday Schedule

Laura Diaz, Mirim Lee and Yani Tseng lead off the Saturday round at the Canadian Open at 7:20am local time. Playing together in the final group, So Yeon Ryu, Danielle Kang and Na Yeon Choi tee off at noon.

Golf Channel begins coverage of the round in progress at 3pm. Canadian viewers can join TSN for coverage of the round in progress at 2pm. All times ET.