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Founders Cup Rookie Battle Continuing

By Elizabeth Bethel

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Mar 20, 2015; PHOENIX, AZ, USA; Ha Na Jang watches her drive on the 1st hole during round two action of the JTBC Founders Cup at Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports

First it was Sophia Popov who challenged the top of the board at the JTBC Founders Cup on the Wildfire Golf Club track in Phoenix.  Now, as the field continues to battle the effects of that Thursday weather delay and get the 2nd round finished, two more rookies seem ready to eclipse the veterans and proven champions.  With 6 holes remaining to be played in her 2nd round, Ha Na Jang sits on the top of the board at 11-under par; and Hyo Joo Kim is in the house at 10-under and ready to begin her 3rd round. 

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With 6 holes remaining to be played in her 2nd round, Ha Na Jang will start on Wildfire’s par-4 number 3 hole Saturday morning at 11-under par.  Going in, she has a bogey-free round on her card and if she can maintain that level of error-free play she’ll likely go into her 3rd round on the top of the board.

The 2013 KLPGA Player of the Year is no stranger to the top of the board.  She brought six KLPGA victories to her rookie season on the Tour and with a runner-up finish at the Coates Golf Championship and a T7th at the Women’s Australian Open, she’s already shown that she can deliver a stellar performance.  I’ll be watching her closely as she plays out her finish to the 2nd round.

She’s definitely got game. Winning Evian wasn’t a fluke last year. – Karrie Webb

Hyo Joo Kim, who did finish her 2nd round at the Founders Cup and is in the clubhouse at 10-under par, has already notched her belt with her victory over

Karrie Webb

at the

2014 Evian Championship

.

I was watching as Kim birdied the 72nd hole to defeat Webb by a stroke. It was a pretty impressive performance by a 19-year-old who was playing in her first major championship.  It’s no accident that Kim’s holding an edge going into the weekend in Phoenix.

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Popov, who like Jang will need to finish her 2nd round Saturday morning, has dropped down on the leaderboard to 6-under par, but with seven holes still to be played she could cover some if not all of the distance between her current position and the leaders with a few well-fired putts.

I’m in a wait-and-see mode on Popov, but with defending champion Webb at 7-under and Stacy Lewis at 9-under for finished rounds, I think Popov is still in contention.

Cindy Feng Yueer, Simin Feng, and Ariya Jutanugarn are all eating breakfast Saturday morning at 5-under par.  Yueer’s score reflects a completed round while Feng and Jutanugarn both will need to finish up before they know with complete confidence that they’ve made the cut, as will Demi Runas, who’s at 4-under with seven holes remaining to be played on her 2nd round.

Marissa Steen is sitting on the cut line at 2-under with seven holes remaining to be played in her 2nd round.  If Steen hopes to make it to the 3rd round she’s going to need to avoid trouble on Saturday morning while she finishes her round.

All-in-all, I see 7 rookies very likely to be playing the weekend at the Founders Cup and some of them are going to deliver games that will challenge three of the Tour’s proven best players, Lydia Ko, Stacy Lewis, and Karrie Webb.

You can follow Saturday’s action on the Tour’s electronic leaderboard and Golf Channel will provide a 2-hour recap of Saturday play beginning at 7pm ET.  Follow me on Twitter @bethbethel and I’ll notify you when I publish updates and commentary on the Founders Cup and other pro golf news.

Next: Founders Cup 1st Round Rookie Race

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