Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic 1st Round Rookie Update (Video)
Apr 3, 2015; Rancho Mirage, CA, USA; Lydia Ko tees off on the fifth hole during the second round of the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills CC – Dinah Shore Tournament Course. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Lake Merced Golf Club put the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic field to a fine first round test. The narrow fairways and snarly rough combined with the unpredictable winds and the Bay Area microclimates that left the field moving in and out of damp, frigid temperatures throughout the round, each presenting its unique challenge. Some players fared better than others, but as I predicted there are rookies going into the second round with a clear look at the top of the leaderboard.
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At the very top, Lydia Ko, rested and perky, delivered a stunning round on Thursday and with a five-under par 67 Ko has a one-shot overnight lead. Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lincicome both turned up the heat mid-way through their rounds. Lewis, who was one-over at the turn, finished with a 69 and trails Ko by two shots. Lincicome, who finished a bit further down the board with a 71, managed to recover from three bogeys and a double by putting together a string of four birdies and an eagle on the back nine. What will they deliver on Friday?
A number of the rookies may have felt like the young standard-bearer who got some extra layers of clothes from Lincicome, Daneille Kang and Sandra Gal, but the rookies didn’t get any sympathy from the veterans.
Sei Young Kim didn’t replicate her stunning final round at the LOTTE Championship in her first encounter with the Lake Merced track. She had trouble finding the fairways and she struggled a bit with the greens, ending her round at two-over par. Sei Young’s in the upper half of the field going into the second round and she’s proved she’s a quick learner. If she can put her first round lessons to work on Friday, she can play herself up into a more secure position for the weekend.
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Hyo Joo Kim got the Lake Merced greens figured out quicker than many others in the Swinging Skirts field and her short game was looking good today, even though she was missing fairways Hyo Joo got around the Lake Merced track with only 26 putts, a very impressive number given that she only got herself onto the green in regulation on 50% of the holes. With a 71 on her card, Hyo Joo’s going into the second round at one-under par and in some good company, alongside two of the Tour’s heavy-hitting veterans, Cristie Kerr and Brittany Lincicome.
Ariya Jutanugarn finished the Swinging Skirts first round at 6-over par. Jutanugarn had a rough day, five bogeys and a double, on the Lake Merced track. She wasn’t able to get that long drive of hers under control and paid the price. Jutanugarn’s well below the cut line going into the second round and she’s going to need a turnaround miracle to pull up high enough on the board to be around for the weekend.
Ha Na Jang delivered a strong first round performance, finishing at 4-under par and a clear look at the top of the board. Jang hit all 14 fairways off the tee and made her way around the course with an economical 26 putts. She’s trailing Lydia Ko’s overnight lead by one shot and keeping company with Juli Inkster and PK Kongkraphan.
Finishing her first round at one-under par, Minjee Lee’s made a very solid start to the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic. She wasn’t particularly accurate off the tee — Lee hit 10 fairways out of 14 tee shots — but she held her putts down to 29, and that kept her in the red numbers, playing alongside Hyo Joo Kim and three shots ahead of her mentor, Karrie Webb.
Alison Lee’s two-over par round was the result of some putting woes. She’s going to need to get control of the Lake Merced greens on Friday if she want to play the weekend. Still, Lee wasn’t the only player who struggled with her flat stick today. Compared to Lexi Thompson’s 35 putts and Paula Creamer’s 34, Alison Lee is going into the second round in the upper half of the board. If she can put to work the lessons she learned today, Alison Lee will play the weekend.
The second round begins to tee off Friday at 7:05am PDT with the weather promising more of the same in terms of cold and wind. Golf Channel coverage of the round in progress begins at 6pm ET. Follow me on Twitter @bethbethel and I’ll notify you when I publish commentary and updates on the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic and other golf news.