Mackenzie joins Golf Channel in TV booth Avnet LPGA Classic
May 9, 2011 by
Filed under News
[unable to retrieve full-text content]
Paige Mackenzie joined Judy Rankin and Tom Abbott in the Golf Channel TV booth at the Avnet LPGA Classic.
Solheim Points Update – Avnet LPGA Classic
May 3, 2011 by
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|
Stacy Lewis led the contingent of American players at last week’s Avnet LPGA Classic and in turn she helped bolster her chances of making the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Team that will take on the Europeans, Sept. 23-25, 2011 at Killeen Castle in Ireland. Lewis’ fifth place finish at the Avnet LPGA Classic earned her 25.5 U.S. Solheim Cup points and boosted her to fourth in the overall points race, trailing Solheim Cup veterans Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel and Michelle Wie. Pressel finished 16th and earned nine points while Angela Stanford and Christina Kim earned 13.5 points each after finishing in a tie for 13th. Paige Mackenzie (19.5), Jennifer Song (9), Juli Inkster (4.5) and Jessica Korda (4.5) also tallied points with their finishes at the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove. Despite not earning any points at the Avnet LPGA Classic, Cristie Kerr continues to maintain a strong lead in the race to make the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup Team with 522 total points. |
Prudential Rock Solid Performer: Hjorth wins Avnet LPGA Classic
May 2, 2011 by
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Maria Hjorth was named the Prudential Rock Solid Performer of the week after her win at the Avnet LPGA Classic.
Maria Hjorth recorded her fifth-career LPGA Tour victory with a two-shot win over Rolex Rankings No. 13 Song-Hee Kim at the Avnet LPGA Classic. Hjorth, one of 27 Moms on the LPGA Tour, fired a 5-under 67 in the final round to capture the victory after starting the day three shots back of the third-round leaders, Kim and 16-year-old sponsor's invite Lexi Thompson. Hjorth recorded four birdies in five holes on the front nine of the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove to vault toward the top of the leaderboard and she weathered a couple bogeys on the back nine to finish at 10-under par for the tournament. She fired back-to-back rounds of 67 on the weekend to help capture the victory.
Hjorth's last victory on Tour came at the 2010 season-ending LPGA Tour Championship when she defeated Amy Yang by a stroke. This is Hjorth's second victory on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. She won the 2007 Navistar LPGA Classic at the Senator at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala. Hjorth has also recorded five International victories since turning professional in 1996.
A familiar face on the bag: With her husband, Shaun McBride, on a break this week from caddying on the PGA Tour for Bryce Molder, Hjorth went with an all-family pairing on the course this week at the Avnet LPGA Classic. McBride used to caddy for Hjorth before the birth of their 2-year-old daughter, Emily. "It was really good to be able to have a win together," Hjorth said. "Obviously he caddied for me full time two years ago before we had our daughter. We lost in the playoff at McDonald's LPGA Championship, so it was great to be able to have a win together. To have just an off week like this and to be able to pull it off is really good."
Age is just a number: Most of the attention entering Sunday's final round was on 16-year-old Lexi Thompson, who was the co-leader with Song-Hee Kim after 54 holes of play. But it was 37-year-old Hjorth who prevailed in the final round. "You know, it's fun to really be able to be out there and win again, even though, you know, I could have just as well been a mum to Alexis Thompson," Hjorth said. "I mean, they're so young coming out here now and you're a bit older. But I think sometimes experience can help as well, and that's what you have to look at, too."
Final-round notes and interviews — Avnet LPGA Classic
May 2, 2011 by
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Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course
Mobile, Ala.
Final-round notes and interviews
May 1, 2011
Maria Hjorth -10, Rolex Rankings No. 27
Song-Hee Kim -8, Rolex Rankings No. 13
Maria Hjorth recorded her fifth-career LPGA Tour victory with a two-shot win over Rolex Rankings No. 13 Song-Hee Kim at the Avnet LPGA Classic. Hjorth, one of 27 Moms on the LPGA Tour, fired a 5-under 67 in the final round to capture the victory after starting the day three shots back of the third-round leaders, Kim and 16-year-old sponsor's invite Lexi Thompson. Hjorth recorded four birdies in five holes on the front nine of the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove to vault toward the top of the leaderboard and she weathered a couple bogeys on the back nine to finish at 10-under par for the tournament. She fired back-to-back rounds of 67 on the weekend to help capture the victory.
Hjorth's last victory on Tour came at the 2010 season-ending LPGA Tour Championship when she defeated Amy Yang by a stroke. This is Hjorth's second victory on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. She won the 2007 Navistar LPGA Classic at the Senator at Capitol Hill in Prattville, Ala. Hjorth has also recorded five International victories since turning professional in 1996.
A familiar face on the bag: With her husband, Shaun McBride, on a break this week from caddying on the PGA Tour for Bryce Molder, Hjorth went with an all-family pairing on the course this week at the Avnet LPGA Classic. McBride used to caddy for Hjorth before the birth of their 2-year-old daughter, Emily. "It was really good to be able to have a win together," Hjorth said. "Obviously he caddied for me full time two years ago before we had our daughter. We lost in the playoff at McDonald's LPGA Championship, so it was great to be able to have a win together. To have just an off week like this and to be able to pull it off is really good."
Age is just a number: Most of the attention entering Sunday's final round was on 16-year-old Lexi Thompson, who was the co-leader with Song-Hee Kim after 54 holes of play. But it was 37-year-old Hjorth who prevailed in the final round. "You know, it's fun to really be able to be out there and win again, even though, you know, I could have just as well been a mum to Alexis Thompson," Hjorth said. "I mean, they're so young coming out here now and you're a bit older. But I think sometimes experience can help as well, and that's what you have to look at, too."
The final round featured a few of the top players moving up the leaderboard late in the day. Stacy Lewis, Rolex Rankings No. 14 and the 2011 Kraft Nabisco champion, shot a 3-under 69 to finish at 6-under for the tournament and finish in fifth after starting the day in a tie for 12th. Rolex Rankings No. 4 Na Yeon Choi also shot a 69 to finish in a tie for third with Rolex Rankings No. 5 Suzann Pettersen at 7-under par.
Comfortable at the top: Song-Hee Kim has yet to record a victory on the LPGA Tour but she's certainly continued to put herself in contention. Kim's 1-under 71 on Sunday gave her a runner-up finish and added to her impressive resume of Top-10 finishes. Kim recorded 16 Top-10 finishes in 23 events last season, which included a runner-up finish at the 2010 LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans.
Golden ticket winners: Maria Hjorth, Song-Hee Kim and Suzann Pettersen punched their "Ticket to CME Group Titleholders" at the Avnet LPGA Classic, each earning a spot in the season-ending CME Group Titleholders event, which will be held Nov. 17-20, 2011 at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. The inaugural CME Group Titleholders, a season finale with a field made up of three qualifiers from every LPGA Tour tournament, is a format never previously used in professional golf. Hjorth won the 2010 LPGA Tour Championship at the course last season.
Hjorth is going to Canyon Ranch. With her victory at the 2011 Avnet LPGA Classic, Maria Hjorth earned an all-inclusive stay for two at a Canyon Ranch resort. In a combined effort to promote health and overall well-being among Tour players, Canyon Ranch will provide every winner of an LPGA event with one all-inclusive stay at one of Canyon Ranch's two destination resorts.
Welcome to Sybase: Ten players qualified for the Sybase Match Play Championship with their performances this week at the Avnet LPGA Classic. They include Sandra Gal, Jenny Suh, Sarah Kemp, Mindy Kim, Alena Sharp, Paige Mackenzie, Grace Park, Mi Hyun Kim, Haeji Kang and Chella Choi. They will join the top four players, not otherwise qualified, from the updated LPGA Official Money List, as well as the top 48 from the 2011 LPGA Priority List.
MARIA HJORTH, Rolex Rankings No. 27
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome the 2011 Avnet LPGA Classic winner, Maria Hjorth into the interview room. First off, congratulations on your win.
MARIA HJORTH: Thank you.
MODERATOR: Just talk a little bit about the round today and recording yet another victory on Tour.
MARIA HJORTH: Yeah, yeah, no, obviously it's always great to be a winner. You work very hard for it. When it happens, especially with a field like this where we have the best players in the world playing, teeing it up on Thursday, it's even a better feeling to know you can be out there and play and play against the best.
But, you know, I knew it was going to be a pretty tough day again today. The course is playing hard. Even though the rough is not very thick, the greens are very firm and there are some tough pin positions. So I knew just had to be patient. Obviously my goal for the weekend was trying to get double digits, which is pretty hard to do. I waited, and I didn't think it was going to be enough for a win, but obviously it was. So I'm very excited about that. I played good. I've been driving the ball really well all week. Made a few little mistakes with some chipping and little 3‑putts, but it's easy to do on these greens. I think a lot of people have done that.
MODERATOR: You went through a stretch early in the round where you had four birdies in five holes and then kind of a little up and down, but you were able to hold it together and keep it there. What was the key for you to being able to do that?
MARIA HJORTH: Well, I played well. It was just a little, you know, easy three‑putt on 11. I just putted my first putt too hard. But I knew I was playing well, so my caddie told me, Just make sure you hang in there. You've done nothing really wrong, so make sure you keep in a positive mind and keep going. I made another birdie a little bit later and obviously made a really bad bogey on 16, but overall, I just made sure I kept playing for myself and not for anyone else and see where that leads me.
MODERATOR: You had your husband on the bag this week. A little bit of a break for him from caddying on the PGA Tour. How special was that to have him on the bag? Now do you have keep him around?
MARIA HJORTH: He's not going to stay, no. No, it was great. It was really good to be able to have a win together. Obviously he caddied for me full time two years ago before we had our daughter. We lost in the playoff at McDonald's LPGA Championship, so it was great to be able to have a win together. To have just an off week like this and to be able to pull it off is really good.
Q. Just talk about the fast start. Did you feel like that was going to be important at the beginning of the round today?
MARIA HJORTH: Oh, definitely, because I knew that there were a lot of good players in front of me, and even teeing up in the same group. So I knew I had to get off to a fast start and hopefully put pressure on the other players. Obviously when you're behind, it's great to be able to come up with a good start and just put a little bit of extra pressure on.
Q. You mentioned the patience out here, which a lot of players have talked about. How important was that, especially when you had the bogey and just maintained what you were doing?
MARIA HJORTH: Yeah, I mean, you have to be very, very patient out here this week, because greens are, like I said earlier, playing very difficult and firm and there are tough pin placements. A lot of times you might not be able to go at the pin, but you have to accept the 20‑ or 25‑foot putt just to make sure you're on the green and give yourself a chance. There are some tough holes out there, so you have to be patient. Also know there are birdie chances. If you make a bogey that you know everybody is going to do, you have birdie chances to catch up with.
Q. So at what point did you celebrate this win? You knew you probably had it barring a miracle after you finished?
MARIA HJORTH: Well, obviously my par putt on the last was pretty important, because two shots coming up the last, you know, miracles happen. She could have holed out her shot. Having one shot, it's still possible that she can make a birdie, so it wasn't really until she hit her second shot that I knew I was going to win the tournament.
Q. You obviously like the Trent Jones courses. Is there something about the design? Do they just suit your game, do you feel?
MARIA HJORTH: I think so. I see myself as a good driver the ball. Obviously on those courses you can take advantage and cut corners and maybe not have things in play that maybe a player that hits a little bit shorter does. I think that's really what I like.And also, coming into the greens, they're pretty tricky. Coming in with a little bit shorter irons help because you can get a little bit more spin on the ball, so I think that's why I think they kind of suit my game.
Q. After having a baby and getting back and winning again, how important is that to what you want to accomplish as well?
MARIA HJORTH: Oh, it's very, very important. I had one win end of last year, and I knew coming into this year I had great momentum and I felt really good about my game. I've been working very hard on my fitness this off‑season to make sure that I get strong and fit again, and that's obviously paid off. You know, when you work hard towards something and you get something back, it's just a great feeling. You know, it's fun to really be able to be out there and win again, even though, you know, I could have just as well been a mum to Alexis Thompson. I mean, they're so young coming out here now and you're a bit older. But I think sometimes experience can help as well, and that's what you have to look at, too.
Q. You did bring Lexi up, so... I guess any golfer that's good enough to be in contentions or have a lead on a final day has probably been through some rough times. Do you feel for her the way things finished up?
MARIA HJORTH: Well, I don't know if you feel for her. I just hope that she learns things from it. That's the important thing. She has to take all the positives that she's achieved this week. Obviously she's done a great job and she was up there and had a chance to win the tournament. She has to look at all the positive she can take with her for the future. She's going to be a great player and have a lot of wins and success. Just really have to forget about the bad stuff, look at all the good stuff, and learn from that.
SONG-HEE KIM, Rolex Rankings No. 13
Q. You had a 1-under 71 today and recorded yet another runner-up finish. How pleased with you with your round today?
SONG-HEE KIM: I had a really, really good feel on the front nine. I hit a lot of fairway but I just kind of missed a few birdie putts that's why I finished at 1-under. I like it because I come back pretty good on No. 16 for eagle. So I was really happy about it.
Q. Did you pay close attention to what Maria was doing throughout the day?
SONG-HEE KIM: I can't do anything with someone playing well. I did my best so I don't care about that. I'm still happy with my finish.
Q. What goes through your mind on that last shot into the green on No. 18?
SONG-HEE KIM: I didn't look at the scoreboard actually. I knew she was 10-under on like 14 or something like that. I didn't look at the score after I had my eagle. So I was just wanting to play my game.
Q. So you didn't know that you had to hole your second shot out on 18 to tie Maria?
SONG-HEE KIM: No I didn't know. I knew my par putt if I make it I'm in second place and if I miss it, I'm still in second place. And I had confidence in that putt.
Third-round notes and interviews -- Avnet LPGA Classic
Second-round notes and interviews -- Avnet LPGA Classic
First-round notes and interviews -- Avnet LPGA Classic
Final Results: Avnet LPGA Classic
May 1, 2011 by
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2011 AVNET LPGA CLASSIC
Final Tournament Summary
Sunday, May 01, 2011
Purse: $ 1,300,000.00
MAGNOLIA GROVE-CROSSINGS COURSE
Par: 36 36 - 72 Yardage: 6502
| POS | NAME | SCORES | TOTAL | TO PAR | OFFICIAL MONEY |
| 1 | Maria Hjorth | 70-74-67-67 | 278 | -10 | $ 195,000 |
| 2 | Song-Hee Kim | 67-72-70-71 | 280 | -8 | $ 118,921 |
| T3 | Na Yeon Choi | 69-72-71-69 | 281 | -7 | $ 76,502 |
| T3 | Suzann Pettersen | 72-68-71-70 | 281 | -7 | $ 76,502 |
| 5 | Stacy Lewis | 68-71-74-69 | 282 | -6 | $ 53,715 |
| T6 | Katherine Hull | 72-71-71-69 | 283 | -5 | $ 37,655 |
| T6 | Hee Kyung Seo | 73-74-65-71 | 283 | -5 | $ 37,655 |
| T6 | Amy Yang | 70-68-72-73 | 283 | -5 | $ 37,655 |
| T9 | Shanshan Feng | 72-71-73-68 | 284 | -4 | $ 25,636 |
| T9 | Sandra Gal | 70-67-75-72 | 284 | -4 | $ 25,636 |
| T9 | Paige Mackenzie | 70-71-71-72 | 284 | -4 | $ 25,636 |
| T9 | Karen Stupples | 68-71-72-73 | 284 | -4 | $ 25,636 |
| T13 | Mindy Kim | 73-68-76-68 | 285 | -3 | $ 20,096 |
| T13 | Christina Kim | 70-71-72-72 | 285 | -3 | $ 20,096 |
| T13 | Angela Stanford | 74-70-68-73 | 285 | -3 | $ 20,096 |
| T16 | Morgan Pressel | 72-70-74-70 | 286 | -2 | $ 16,972 |
| T16 | Stephanie Sherlock | 71-74-71-70 | 286 | -2 | $ 16,972 |
| T16 | Jennifer Song | 74-73-69-70 | 286 | -2 | $ 16,972 |
| T19 | Jessica Korda | 75-69-73-70 | 287 | -1 | $ 14,715 |
| T19 | Juli Inkster | 71-72-70-74 | 287 | -1 | $ 14,715 |
| T19 | Anna Nordqvist | 73-72-68-74 | 287 | -1 | $ 14,715 |
| T19 | Lexi Thompson | 71-71-67-78 | 287 | -1 | $ 14,715 |
| T23 | Chella Choi | 73-70-77-68 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Haeji Kang | 72-71-74-71 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Alena Sharp | 72-69-76-71 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Heather Bowie Young | 72-73-72-71 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Lorie Kane | 72-73-71-72 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Jimin Kang | 73-69-73-73 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Cristie Kerr | 76-70-69-73 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Grace Park | 67-75-72-74 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T23 | Sun Young Yoo | 72-68-74-74 | 288 | E | $ 11,553 |
| T32 | Ryann O'Toole | 73-74-73-69 | 289 | +1 | $ 8,698 |
| T32 | Kristy McPherson | 76-70-72-71 | 289 | +1 | $ 8,698 |
| T32 | Maria Hernandez | 73-72-70-74 | 289 | +1 | $ 8,698 |
| T32 | Karin Sjodin | 74-71-70-74 | 289 | +1 | $ 8,698 |
| T32 | Sarah Kemp | 70-70-74-75 | 289 | +1 | $ 8,698 |
| T37 | Stacy Prammanasudh | 70-75-76-69 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Haru Nomura | 73-71-76-70 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Wendy Ward | 75-72-73-70 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Karrie Webb | 77-69-73-71 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Laura Davies | 72-72-74-72 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Candie Kung | 72-70-75-73 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Jee Young Lee | 73-72-71-74 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Beatriz Recari | 73-72-71-74 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Brittany Lincicome | 71-73-71-75 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T37 | Se Ri Pak | 69-71-75-75 | 290 | +2 | $ 6,420 |
| T47 | Brittany Lang | 72-73-78-68 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T47 | Jin Young Pak | 73-73-75-70 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T47 | Dori Carter | 72-73-75-71 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T47 | M.J. Hur | 74-73-72-72 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T47 | Angela Oh | 69-77-72-73 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T47 | Mi Hyun Kim | 73-70-74-74 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T47 | Mhairi McKay | 74-72-71-74 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T47 | Pornanong Phatlum | 74-72-71-74 | 291 | +3 | $ 4,541 |
| T55 | Cindy LaCrosse | 73-74-73-72 | 292 | +4 | $ 3,841 |
| T55 | Dewi Claire Schreefel | 72-72-75-73 | 292 | +4 | $ 3,841 |
| T57 | Karine Icher | 75-71-75-72 | 293 | +5 | $ 3,516 |
| T57 | Kris Tamulis | 75-70-76-72 | 293 | +5 | $ 3,516 |
| T57 | Natalie Gulbis | 74-70-76-73 | 293 | +5 | $ 3,516 |
| T60 | Gerina Piller | 73-74-75-72 | 294 | +6 | $ 3,190 |
| T60 | Mina Harigae | 78-69-73-74 | 294 | +6 | $ 3,190 |
| T60 | Paula Creamer | 71-72-75-76 | 294 | +6 | $ 3,190 |
| T63 | Tiffany Joh | 73-72-78-72 | 295 | +7 | $ 2,930 |
| T63 | Taylor Leon | 74-71-78-72 | 295 | +7 | $ 2,930 |
| T63 | Nicole Hage | 73-73-75-74 | 295 | +7 | $ 2,930 |
| T63 | Hee Young Park | 73-71-76-75 | 295 | +7 | $ 2,930 |
| T63 | Jenny Suh | 71-69-77-78 | 295 | +7 | $ 2,930 |
| 68 | Samantha Richdale | 74-73-72-77 | 296 | +8 | $ 2,734 |
| T69 | Reilley Rankin | 72-72-76-77 | 297 | +9 | $ 2,637 |
| T69 | Azahara Munoz | 73-71-75-78 | 297 | +9 | $ 2,637 |
| T71 | Marcy Hart | 70-75-78-75 | 298 | +10 | $ 2,539 |
| T71 | Laura Diaz | 75-69-78-76 | 298 | +10 | $ 2,539 |
| T71 | Amanda Blumenherst | 73-71-77-77 | 298 | +10 | $ 2,539 |
| 74 | Ilhee Lee | 79-66-75-79 | 299 | +11 | $ 2,474 |
| 75 | Aree Song | 74-69-81-76 | 300 | +12 | $ 2,444 |
| 76 | Ashli Bunch | 72-74-76-79 | 301 | +13 | $ 2,413 |
| 77 | Eunjung Yi | 75-71-81-77 | 304 | +16 | $ 2,383 |
| Beth Bader | 75-73 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Sara Brown | 72-76 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Diana D'Alessio | 73-75 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Hee-Won Han | 76-72 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Eun-Hee Ji | 74-74 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Jennie Lee | 74-74 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Mika Miyazato | 74-74 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Sarah Jane Smith | 77-71 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Michelle Wie | 76-72 | 148 | CUT | ||
| Nicole Castrale | 79-70 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Julieta Granada | 77-72 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Yoo Kyeong Kim | 72-77 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Becky Morgan | 77-72 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Yani Tseng | 77-72 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Alison Walshe | 75-74 | 149 | CUT | ||
| Kyeong Bae | 78-72 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Anna Grzebien | 76-74 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Amy Hung | 75-75 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Belen Mozo | 72-78 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Jane Park | 74-76 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Jean Reynolds | 76-74 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Jessica Shepley | 74-76 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Jenny Shin | 74-76 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Alison Whitaker | 74-76 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Lindsey Wright | 78-72 | 150 | CUT | ||
| Silvia Cavalleri | 75-76 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Michelle Ellis | 75-76 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Kimberly Kim | 77-74 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Seon Hwa Lee | 77-74 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Stephanie Louden | 75-76 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Paola Moreno | 78-73 | 151 | CUT | ||
| Meaghan Francella | 78-74 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Louise Friberg | 76-76 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Katie Futcher | 76-76 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Pat Hurst | 75-77 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Vicky Hurst | 81-71 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Na On Min | 78-74 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Jennifer Rosales | 76-76 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Louise Stahle | 78-74 | 152 | CUT | ||
| Shasta Averyhardt | 79-74 | 153 | CUT | ||
| Allison Hanna | 80-73 | 153 | CUT | ||
| Jeehae Lee | 78-75 | 153 | CUT | ||
| Ai Miyazato | 76-77 | 153 | CUT | ||
| Blair O'Neal | 77-76 | 153 | CUT | ||
| Young-A Yang | 79-74 | 153 | CUT | ||
| Moira Dunn | 77-77 | 154 | CUT | ||
| Lisa Meldrum | 77-77 | 154 | CUT | ||
| Christine Song | 79-75 | 154 | CUT | ||
| Mollie Fankhauser | 78-77 | 155 | CUT | ||
| Nannette Hill | 78-77 | 155 | CUT | ||
| Hannah Jun | 80-75 | 155 | CUT | ||
| Birdie Kim | 75-80 | 155 | CUT | ||
| Ji Young Oh | 81-74 | 155 | CUT | ||
| Nicole Jeray | 80-76 | 156 | CUT | ||
| Leta Lindley | 78-78 | 156 | CUT | ||
| Giulia Sergas | 74-82 | 156 | CUT | ||
| Jaclyn Sweeney | 81-75 | 156 | CUT | ||
| Dina Ammaccapane | 78-79 | 157 | CUT | ||
| Allison Fouch | 80-77 | 157 | CUT | ||
| Mariajo Uribe | 81-76 | 157 | CUT | ||
| Minea Blomqvist | 82-76 | 158 | CUT | ||
| Danah Bordner | 80-78 | 158 | CUT | ||
| Dorothy Delasin | 80-78 | 158 | CUT | ||
| Libby Smith | 81-88 | 169 | CUT | ||
| Shi Hyun Ahn | 77 | WD | |||
| Song Yi Choi | 80 | WD | |||
| Pernilla Lindberg | 0 | DQ |
Second-round notes and interviews -- Avnet LPGA Classic
First-round notes and interviews -- Avnet LPGA Classic
Third-round notes and interviews — Avnet LPGA Classic
May 1, 2011 by
Filed under News
Avnet LPGA Classic
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course
Mobile, Ala.
Third round notes and interviews
April 30, 2011
Lexi Thompson -7, Rolex Rankings No. 100
Song-Hee Kim -7, Rolex Rankings No. 13
Amy Yang -6, Rolex Rankings No. 25
Maria Hjorth -5, Rolex Rankings No. 27
Hee Kyung Seo -4, Rolex Rankings No. 28
16-year-old Lexi Thompson and Song-Hee Kim are tied for the lead at 7-under-par and lead by one stroke over Amy Yang entering the final round of the Avnet LPGA Classic. Thompson fired a 5-under 67 on Saturday at the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala. while Kim shot a 2-under 70 to put them as co-leaders after 54 holes of play. Thompson, a Coral Gables, Fla. native, recorded six birdies and one bogey in her round to vault herself from a tie for 16th into sole possession of the lead. This is Thompson’s first LPGA event of the 2011 season and she is playing on a sponsor’s exemption.
If Thompson can hold on to win, she would become the youngest champion in LPGA history. Thompson will be 16 years, 2 months and 21 days on Sunday. Marlene Hagge was 18 years, 14 days when she won the 1952 Sarasota Open, which was an 18-hole event. Hagge won two 18-hole events at the age of 18. The youngest winner of a multi-round event on the LPGA Tour was Paula Creamer, who captured the 2005 Sybase Classic when she was 18 years, 9 months and 17 days.
Another Rolex First-Time Winner? There have already been two Rolex First-Time winners on the LPGA Tour this season – Sandra Gal and Stacy Lewis. And it’s possible that there could be a third at the Avnet LPGA Classic. None of the top three players on the leaderboard heading into Sunday have won an event, but all are no strangers to being in contention at tournaments. Kim recorded 16 Top-10 finishes in 23 events last season, which included a runner-up finish at the 2010 LPGA Championship presented by Wegmans. “It happened before a lot of times, so I know what I need and I know what I have to do,“ Kim said of having a lead in a tournament. “So I just try to play my own game and talk to caddie more and enjoy it.”
No stranger to the attention: Thompson’s best finish in an LPGA event came last July at the 2010 Evian Masters when she finished in a tie for second place – one stroke behind winner Jiyai Shin, who at the time was the No. 1 player in the Rolex Rankings. Yang had six top-10 finishes last season, which included a career-best, runner-up finish at the 2010 LPGA Tour Championship
Age is just a number: Thompson is certainly drawing a lot of attention based on the fact that she’s only 16 years old, but it’s not just the youngsters who are near the top of the leaderboard heading into Sunday’s final round. A pair of 37-year-olds are currently in the top-5 with Maria Hjorth and Karen Stupples sitting in a tie for fourth at 5-under par.
A busy Moving Day: There were a number of players who took advantage of moving day on Saturday with low rounds. Hee Kyung Seo, the 2010 Kia Classic winner, teed off in the second group of the day and fired the low round of the tournament with a 7-under 65. Seo started the day in a tie for 69th at 3-over par and wound up in a tie for seventh at 4-under. There were a total of 22 rounds under par on Saturday.
Welcome to Sybase: On Saturday, three more players earned entry into the Sybase Match Play in Gladstone, New Jersey on May 19-22. Mi Hyun Kim, Haeji Kang and Chella Choi solidified the final three spots in the event. They join Sandra Gal, Jenny Suh, Sarah Kemp, Mindy Kim, Alena Sharp, Paige Mackenzie, and Grace Park, as well as the top 48 from the 2011 LPGA Priority List. In addition, the top four players on this year’s LPGA Official Money List, not already qualified, after the completion of the Avnet LPGA Classic will also earn spots into the Sybase field.
LEXI THOMPSON, Rolex Rankings No. 100
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Alexis Thompson into the interview room. Congratulations on your 5 under round of 67 today. You're currently leading the tournament at 7-under. What went right for you today in the round that was perhaps different from the two rounds before?
LEXI THOMPSON: I would just say my putting was pretty good today. I mean, I dropped a few 15 footers, so that definitely helped me out. You know, I came out of a few golf shots, didn't really trust 'em, but my putting definitely helped.
MODERATOR: You have been in contention before. Last year at Evian you were up near the top of the leaderboard. How much did that help you coming into this and now as you head into tomorrow being at the top again?
LEXI THOMPSON: It definitely helps. All of these tournaments are learning experiences for me. I came into the last day at Evian probably a few more back, so I just went all in on every golf shot and didn't really worry about it. I ended, like, coming back one, so it was a great experience. Just going to take one shot at a time tomorrow.
MODERATOR: This is your first LPGA Tour event of the season. To be in contention and here on a sponsor's exemption, how nice is it to be up here in this position heading into Sunday?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I'm just really grateful that I'm here. I mean, my first LPGA event on a sponsor's invite, I'm just really honored and I'm really happy to be here and not where the tornadoes are hitting. I'm just really grateful and I'm honored to be playing this tournament.
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Q. Would you talk about your putting? Talking with you dad, he said that seemed to be the thing that was really most different from the previous two rounds. Was there extra confidence today? Pin placements? Just what was it about it?
LEXI THOMPSON: Well, the pin placements are a little easy are today, that's for sure. Yesterday you just had to play to the middle of the green. Me and my dad have been getting along really well, so I've just been trusting my reads on the greens and see where that goes. I made a few, so really grateful about that.
Q. I couldn't tell exactly how far you were away on 16, but the 12 , 15 foot range sum it up?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I made a few of those, yeah, about 12 , 15 footers. I got up and down there for birdie. You know, I hit a few good iron shots today. The course is in great shape for us. To play with Grace Park was amazing, too.
Q. You've gotten the lead, and you probably know you're close when you're coming up 18. Just to be able to get up and down from where you were, how much confidence does that give you going into tomorrow?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I actually saw the leaderboard going into 18. I hadn't been looking at the leaderboard. I'm not trying to worry about that. I just glimpse at it. But getting up and down there definitely helped. Side of the green wasn't that good, but I two putted, so definitely take it. I'll hit a few more now and be good tomorrow.
Q. That brings me to my question: What were you thinking when the shot landed where it did on 18? Could have been trouble.
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I was just hoping, ‘Don't go in the bunker. Don’t go in the bunker.’ I mean, when I hit it, I was like, ‘Wow, that was really bad.’ But, you know, it's golf. You hit shots like that, and you just have to take and go find and get up and down from wherever it goes.
Q. How different will it be for you if it holds the way it is right now, having the lead not having the membership but having the lead and going in on the final round?
LEXI THOMPSON: Not really worried about that. Going into tomorrow just going all in on every golf shot. Play consistent like I did the last few days, and hopefully it'll all go well.
SONG-HEE KIM, Rolex Rankings No. 13
Q. To be tied for the lead after three rounds, how is that going into Sunday now?
SONG HEE KIM: I mean, it happened before a lot of times, so I know what I need and I know what I have to do.So I just try to play my own game and talk to caddie more and enjoy it.
Q. At 18 here there was a little concern when you hit into the bunker on your second shot, but you handled that pretty well.
SONG HEE KIM: Yeah, I was thinking I needed like little shot, but I have to hit a full one. But, anyway, I had a great lie on bunker, so I knew I'm going to have par. So I had a lot of confidence, and I think that's why I made a par.
Q. Do you have good confidence going into tomorrow?
SONG HEE KIM: Yeah, I need it.
AMY YANG, Rolex Rankings No. 13
Q. Being one shot out of the lead heading into Sunday, how nice of a feeling is that for you?
AMY YANG: I haven't been that position too much, but I think that way is, you know, more better than one shot lead. [The leaders] are probably a little nervous, you know.
Q. Yeah, I was going to say, no pressure then when you're not in the lead. Is there less pressure then when you're coming from behind?
AMY YANG: It's kind of less pressure, you know. Still in the top, so still going to be a little pressure, but less pressure than one shot lead.
Q. Today's round, even par, a lot of pars, not many birdies, bogeys. Was it consistent for you or just not a lot of opportunities? How would you describe your round?
AMY YANG: I had little tough day. It was a little more breeze today. That made greens faster and firmer. But although I had some chances for birdies, I had tough time with putting.But it was a good day. I had some good par saves.
MARIA HJORTH, Rolex Rankings No. 27
Q. Can you take us through your eagle on the par-5 16th hole?
MARIA HJORTH: I hit a good drive. I thought it was going to be a little bit further up but I think it landed soft. But I hit a 3-wood for my second shot to about 15 feet and made the putt.
Q. Just a routine eagle?
MARIA HJORTH: [laughs] A routine eagle. No, it was a really good second shot. The pin is way back there and the wind is coming off the right so it was kind of the perfect shape to get into the pin. I just ended up -- I had a great result.
Q. It’s moving day and you did some moving.
MARIA HJORTH: Yeah, definitely. It’s tough out there because of the wind. I knew that if I could try for maybe 3-under today or something like that, I knew it was going to be a very good round and move myself up. But 5-under obviously helps and they still have a lot of holes out there to go so we’ll see where that ill leave me for tomorrow. But I’m very excited about my round today and the way that I played. I made a few putts. A couple of bogeys still but that’s going to happen out there.
Q. You had the back-to-back bogeys and then you were able to come back from that. Was there a point of saying, ‘OK, settle?’
MARIA HJORTH: Yeah, yeah, yeah. I have my caddy out there and he helps me out. Obviously I made a really silly bogey on the par-5 6th out there and just a bad tee shot on No. 7, kind of ended up with a really difficult second shot from the fairway bunker. I knew I was playing well leading up to that. So I had to make sure that I stayed up there and I stayed positive. I knew that it was a tough day and still be able to maybe shoot a couple under from there and I shot a bit more. So it’s great.
HEE KYUNG SEO, Rolex Rankings No. 28
Q. Playing in the second group of the morning, you went out and shot the lowest round of the tournament so far, a 7-under 65. Can you talk a little bit about the round and what was going well for you on the course today?
HEE KYUNG SEO: Well yesterday, I had a good shot but I didn’t make a lot of putts. I had lots of opportunities to have birdies but I didn’t make them all. I was thinking just about positive things today and I hit really good and my putting was all good. So I’m really happy.
Q. Players had been saying all week that it was an advantage to tee off early before the greens firmed up later in the afternoon. Did you hope going off early today that you could put together a good round and make a run at the leaders?
HEE KYUNG SEO: Yeah, actually it was really calm and no wind. So the green was a little soft and I could make my own swing. I think that was helping a little bit. Starting out on the back nine there was a little bit of wind, but it didn’t make a big difference.
Q. Did you think that a low round out there to be had today?
HEE KYUNG SEO: I didn’t think about the scores. I just wanted to play my game because the last few weeks I didn’t play my own game. I just think about too much about the scores. So I just try to think about one shot at a time. That proved helpful today
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Second-round notes and interviews — Avnet LPGA Classic
April 30, 2011 by
Filed under News
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course
Mobile, Ala.
Second round notes and interviews
April 29, 2011
Sandra Gal -7, Rolex Rankings No. 38
Amy Yang -6, Rolex Rankings No. 25
Stacy Lewis -5, Rolex Rankings No. 14
One of this year’s Rolex First-Time Winners ruled the day during Friday’s second round of the Avnet LPGA Classic. Sandra Gal fired a 5-under 67on Friday to move to 7-under-par for the tournament and take a one-stroke lead over Amy Yang at the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala. Gal, who picked up her first career win at the Kia Classic last month, had an up-and-down front nine as she tallied three birdies and two bogeys. After bogeying 10 to get back to even-par on the day, Gal caught fire. She recorded three straight birdies and a total of five birdies in seven holes to vault herself from a tie for 8th on Thursday into sole possession of the lead after two rounds of play.
On a roll: Gal has shot over par just twice in her last 13 rounds and she has not finished worse than a tie for 15th in each of her last three tournaments on the LPGA Tour. “Obviously I'm playing well,” Gal said. “I'm just enjoying myself out there. I mean, I'm not doing anything really different. I've been playing solid since the end of last year. Just winning, you know, I think you get more comfortable at the top. Being in the lead is something you know, you want to be there and feel comfortable there, so that's probably the difference now.”
Staying on for the weekend: A total of 77 players made the cut which fell at 3-over-par 147.
Amy Yang was one of a number of players to take advantage of playing early on Friday. The South Korean shot a 4-under 68 to put herself within a shot of the lead, as she sits at 6-under-par for the tournament. Of the 14 rounds shot in the 60s during Friday’s second round, only three of them were recorded by players with afternoon tee times. Yang has yet to record a victory on the LPGA Tour but she had six top 10 finishes last season, which included a career-best, runner-up finish at the 2010 LPGA Tour Championship.
2011 Kraft Nabisco winner Stacy Lewis continued her recent solid play, shooting a 1-under 71 to move to five-under par and into a tie for third with Karen Stupples and Song-Hee Kim. Lewis had three bogeys and two birdies en route to her second straight under-par round, although she said that this one was much more difficult than her round on Thursday. “It was just kind of up and down all day,” Lewis said. “I just had to fight. Made a couple bad bogeys on the par 3s, but played well coming in. Just missed a birdie on 17; thought I made the putt. Birdied 16 and made a great two putt there, so good momentum going into the weekend.”
Twice as Nice? Lewis is looking to join LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb as the second back-to-back winner on Tour this year. Webb captured back-to-back wins at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore and the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.
Defending champion Se Ri Pak continued her stay near the top of the leaderboard at the Avnet LPGA Classic. Pak shot a second-round 71 to move her to 4-under-par for the tournament and into a tie for sixth with Suzann Pettersen, Sun Young Yoo and Sarah Kemp. Since 2001, Pak has won a total of three times at the Crossings Course at Magnolia Grove. She tallied victories at the 2001 and 2002 Tournament of Champions and last year she won the 2010 Bell Micro LPGA Classic, which was rain-shortened to 54 holes, in a playoff over Brittany Lincicome and Pettersen.
Welcome to Sybase: The top-10 players after Friday’s second round at the Avnet LPGA Classic, who are not already qualified, gained entry into the Sybase Match Play event in Gladstone, New Jersey on May 19-22. Sandra Gal, Jenny Suh, Sarah Kemp, Mindy Kim, Alena Sharp, Paige Mackenzie, and Grace Park have all solidified their spots in the event. There are four players (Aree Song, Mi Hyun Kim, Chella Choi and Haeji Kang) who finished in a tie and they will be vying for the final three spots. In addition, the top four players on this year’s LPGA Official Money List, not already qualified, after the completion of the Avnet LPGA Classic will also earn spots into the Sybase field
A Royal Party: The Avnet LPGA Classic played host to a once-per-generation type party today in honor of the Royal Wedding on Friday. The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama (one of Travel + Leisure magazine's Top 500 hotels in the world) catered the event with a one-of-a-kind Buckingham Palace cake. Traditional English tea, crumpets, tea sandwiches and cookies were also served. Scotland’s Mhairi McKay and recent winners Stacy Lewis and Sandra Gal stopped in to enjoy the festivities after their rounds.
Of Note…Ilhee Lee shot the low round of the tournament with a six-under 66 on Friday. Lee is currently tied for 42nd at one-over-par…Shi Hyun Ahn and Song Yi Choi withdrew from the tournament after the first round …Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng was 10-over-par through 30 holes of the Avnet LPGA Classic but she birdied five of her last six holes to shoot an even-par 72. Tseng missed the cut, finishing the two days at 5-over-par.
SANDRA GAL, Rolex Rankings No. 38
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Sandra Gal into the interview room. Congratulations on your 5 under round today. Take me through what went well for you out on the course today. You played well yesterday, but maybe didn’t convert as many times as you would have liked. What was the difference today in the round?
SANDRA GAL: Well, I didn't start off that strong today. It was kind of slow start, but I just made a couple bogeys, 9, 10, and that was kind of like a turning point for me. I kind of got down on myself a little bit. Then I was like okay, Let's just play one shot at a time and be patient. The birdies are going to come. They did, so I was happy about that.
MODERATOR: After getting that first career win at the Kia Classic, you’ve continued to play well. What's been the difference for you after getting that first win?
SANDRA GAL: Obviously I'm playing well. I'm just enjoying myself out there. I mean, I'm not doing anything really different. I've been playing solid since the end of last year. Just winning, you know, I think you get more comfortable at the top. Being in the lead is something you know, you want to be there and feel comfortable there, so that's probably the difference now.
Q. A lot of the golfers talk about patience being very important out here. How difficult is it around here to actually bring that into play?
SANDRA GAL: Well, it all depends for me on the pin positions. I think there are few pins out there that you just can't go for, so that is where patience really comes into play. You have to bail center of the green, make two putts, and hopefully roll it in. You can't just go for every pin out here.
Q. Did anything change for you after you won in terms of a lot more media exposure at Kraft, et cetera, in terms of sponsorships, Twitter, more people recognize you in Orlando?
SANDRA GAL: Yeah, it's been amazing. So many people come up to me and congratulate me. I just feel very thankful for that. There is a lot media attention from Germany. Other than that, Twitter followers, yeah, I think that one week I gained like 1,500, so it was kind of funny. But other than that, nothing changed.
Q. How much did it mean to you to get the win and have the confidence that you had going out? You said you really are doing the same things, but is it a different mindset once you say, Okay, I can do it?
SANDRA GAL: I think there is. Once you've won, obviously you want to win again, so you've kind of got this mindset, I can do it. On the other hand, I'm in the lead now, but I'm not going to have any expectations on me. There are so many good players out there. The good thing about winning was it's kind of a tough year to get in a lot of the events at the end of the year. So by winning, I'm in all the tournaments. We have like 18 tournaments ahead of us. So it's just nice to be in all of them, to know you have a nice season ahead of you, you know, just playing one round at a time.
Q. You’ve played with Stacy Lewis the last two days. What are your thoughts on Stacy’s game and how she's been playing the last few weeks?
SANDRA GAL: Yeah, well obviously she has been playing great golf. Yesterday she was striking it beautifully; today I think her timing might have been a little bit off. She's such a solid player. I love her putting stroke as well. She'll probably come back strong tomorrow.
AMY YANG, ROLEX RANKINGS No. 25
Q. You shot a 4-under 68 today to move to 6-under for the tournament and one shot off the lead. Can you talk about your round?
AMY YANG: My front nine, my shot felt really good. It was near the pin. I had pretty short putts. I made five birdies. I had a great round today.
Q. You made five birdies in your first eight holes. What was working really well for you then?
AMY YANG: My irons, mostly irons. It was inside 10 feet, all five of my birdies.
Q. All of them? So your longest birdie putt was just 10 feet?
AMY YANG: The longest one was a little longer than that. But four of them was close.
STACY LEWIS, Rolex Rankings No. 14
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Stacy Lewis into the interview room. Congratulations on your 1 under, 71 today. Take us through the round and how things went for you today.
STACY LEWIS: Today's compared to yesterday, I actually hit one more green than yesterday, but I wasn't close to the hole. I didn't really get anything close, and missed in the wrong spot a couple times.Scrambled around and just got the ball in the hole, and was pretty happy shooting 1 under.
MODERATOR: Sometimes when you don't hit it as close, but yet you can still shoot a round like you did today. Is that an even better boost for you when you can do that?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I mean, the two putt I made on 18 kind of summarized the day. It was hard. It was a struggle. I birdied a couple of par 5s that you have to do out here. I don't know. I was pretty happy with it, though.
Q. What are you expecting from the afternoon rounds? Do you feel like there will be some other numbers up there pushing you people that are up front?
STACY LEWIS: I don't think anybody's going to run a way. I think the golf course is playing too hard, especially this afternoon. It's going to get firm, which off the tee that helps if you have shorter clubs. But some of the hole locations, even this morning it was hard to hold the green and get it close. So I think all week it's going to be close. You're not going to see a 63 or something like that. Nothing crazy low this week.
Q. How are you finding the greens out here? Is it hard to make the ball stop?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, they're better than they were last year. They were really firm last year. But just they're drying out, and this morning I thought it was hard because they were soft in the morning, and then I was trying to figure out when they were drying out during the day. So I had some shots that I thought were going to I hit and release just hit and stop, where yesterday we knew everything was going to release.
Q. Was there a part in the round today that was a turning point that kept it together for you?
STACY LEWIS: Um, no. It was just kind of up and down all day. Just had to fight. Made a couple bad bogeys on the par 3s, but played well coming in. Just missed a birdie on 17; thought I made the putt. Birdied 16 and made a great two putt there, so good momentum going into the weekend.
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Royal Wedding Reception at Avnet LPGA Classic
April 29, 2011 by
Filed under News
|
The Avnet LPGA Classic played host to a once-per-generation type party today in honor of the Royal Wedding. The Grand Hotel in Point Clear, Alabama (one of Travel + Leisure magazine's Top 500 hotels in the world) catered the event with a one-of-a-kind Buckingham Palace cake. Traditional English tea, crumpets, tea sandwiches and cookies were also served. Scotland’s Mhairi McKay and recent winners Stacy Lewis and Sandra Gal stopped in to enjoy the festivities after their rounds. |
First-round notes and interviews — Avnet LPGA Classic
April 29, 2011 by
Filed under News
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course
Mobile, Ala.
First round notes and interviews
April 28, 2011
Song-Hee Kim -5, Rolex Rankings No. 13
Grace Park -5, Rolex Rankings No. 289
Karen Stupples -4, Rolex Rankings No. 93
Stacy Lewis -4, Rolex Rankings No. 14
Se Ri Pak -3, Rolex Rankings No. 35 and defending champion
Marcy Hart -2, Rolex Rankings No. 255
Alexis Thompson -1, Rolex Rankings No. 100
Song-Hee Kim and Grace Park each shot a 5-under-par 67 on Thursday at the Avnet LPGA Classic to take a share of the first round lead. The duo leads Karen Stupples and Stacy Lewis by one shot entering second round play at Magnolia Grove’s Crossings Course, part of the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. Kim, who tallied 15 top-10 finishes in 2010, is trying for her first career victory after recording seven birdies and two bogeys in the opening round. Park is a six-time winner on the LPGA Tour but she’s looking for her first LPGA victory in quite some time as she hasn’t won a Tour event since 2004.
Back in action: For the past few seasons, Park has been bothered by back problems and her cranky back even forced her to withdraw from Wednesday’s pro-am at the Avnet LPGA Classic. But despite the minor setback, Park didn’t have any health issues on Thursday as she shot an opening-round 67. Park tallied five birdies, an eagle and two bogeys en route to shooting her lowest round so far this season. Park has yet to make a cut in her three previous events in 2011. “I'm very happy that even though my back, I had a little scare last couple days, but I mean, my back is feeling good,” Park said. “I'm being able to practice, work out, staying strong. Overall it's a great feeling. If I can just keep my back solid, I think I will start putting in some low numbers.”
Defending champion Se Ri Pak wasted no time in finding herself back near the top of the leaderboard at the Avnet LPGA Classic. Pak shot an opening-round 69 to finish at 3-under, tied for fifth with Na Yeon Choi and Angela Oh and three shots back of the leader. This golf course -- the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course – appears to be a place of comfort for the LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member. Since 2001, Pak has won a total of three times at this golf course. She tallied victories at the 2001 and 2002 Tournament of Champions and last year she won the 2010 Bell Micro LPGA Classic, which was rain-shortened to 54 holes, in a playoff over Brittany Lincicome and Suzann Pettersen. Pak also shot a 69 in the first round last year en route to winning the tournament.
In the nick of time: Karen Stupples wasn’t sure how she was going to play in the first round on Thursday after her 4-year-old son Logan became sick on Wednesday night. Stupples’ husband, Bobby, is her caddy and Logan couldn’t go to daycare being so ill. But the Stupples’ found someone to watch Logan before her tee time and Karen wound up delivering one of the best rounds on Thursday. She shot a 4-under 68 with four birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to finish one stroke behind the leaders and in a tie for third with Stacy Lewis.
Recent Rolex First-Time Winner Stacy Lewis found herself once again near the top of the leaderboard on Thursday. Lewis, who picked up her first career win and her first major title at the Kraft Nabisco Championship last month, shot a first round 68 to sit in a tie for third place with Stupples. Lewis is looking to join LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb as the second back-to-back winner on Tour this year. Webb captured back-to-back wins at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore and the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.
Trying to earn a spot: The top-10 players after Friday’s second round at the Avnet LPGA Classic, who are not already qualified, will gain entry into the Sybase Match Play event in Gladstone, New Jersey on May 19-22. As of Thursday, Grace Park -5, Angela Oh -3, Paige McKenzie -2, Sandra Gal -2, Marcy Hart -2, Sarah Kemp -2, Stephanie Sherlock -1, Jenny Suh -1 were the top eight with 12 players tied for the final two spots. In addition, the top four players on this year’s LPGA Official Money List, not already qualified, after the completion of the Avnet LPGA Classic will also earn spots into the Sybase field
Of Note…Jenny Suh carded her first-career LPGA hole-in-on on the 14th hole with 5-hybrid from 151 yards…Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng shot a 5-over 77 in Thursday’s first round…Pernilla Lindberg was disqualified after the first round for signing an incorrect scorecard.
SONG-HEE KIM, Rolex Rankings No. 13
Q. You’re 5-under-par, tied for the lead. How does it feel?
SONG-HEE KIM: I feel pretty good to be tied with Grace Park. I played solid today and hit it much better than other tournaments. I made a lot of putts, so I like it.
Q. You’ve struggled this year compared to the last few years. What has it been?
SONG-HEE KIM: I’ve been a little sick. I went to Korea a couple times and got a cold. My body was weak, sick. My mind has really been worried about everything. I try too hard. My shots aren’t the same as last year. Hitting left, right, left. I’ve had better shots the last three weeks, working pretty hard.
Q. Does this course suit your game?
SONG-HEE KIM: Yeah, I like it. The greens are good today. Really fast, which I like. The weather was pretty good. The greens are a little firm, but I like that better than soft.
GRACE PARK, Rolex Rankings No. 289
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Grace Park into the interview room. Congratulations on your 5 under round today. Take me through your round today. What went really well for you?
GRACE PARK: Every thing. Obviously when you finish the round at 5 under, everything has to go pretty well. I started out hitting my irons really close. Birdied the third hole; eagled the fourth, which was par 5, No. 13, so 3 under right there. Everything was just easy and smooth today. Made a couple of mistakes, but overall in these windy conditions I stayed very consistent to the green and rolled in some putts, and birdied the last two holes to finish at 5 under.
Q. How are the conditions out there? I know it's been rainy and windy the last couple days. How were they today?
GRACE PARK: I think it's perfect, obviously. It's suiting my game. It's windy, but it's not too bad. The greens are rolling beautifully. I love to putt on fast greens and hard greens. It's playing very fair.
Q. I know in the past few years you dealt with some back issues. How are feeling now?
GRACE PARK: I actually had to withdraw from the Pro Am yesterday because I started feeling a little funny Tuesday afternoon. But overall, my back's been better than it has been in the last five, six years.I mean, I'm feeling really strong; I'm feeling really good.
Q. How good is that, to be able to have a round like that because of the back issues and you haven't been able to play as you would like?
GRACE PARK: It feels awesome. But more so, I want to say it's a relief. I'm obviously very, very happy, but I've been waiting for this round. I played three events early on, and I never knew what being rusty was. After having two seasons out with surgeries, I was lucky. I was swinging just as well, putting just as well, just not putting the round, the shots together. But today, you know for the past three weeks I played a lot of golf, and it seems to have helped.
Q. How does that feel, to have that come back again and to have that feeling and be able to control your game more like you had previously?
GRACE PARK: Yeah, I mean, it's nice. But more so, I'm very happy that even though my back, I had a little scare last couple days, I mean, my back is feeling good. I'm being able to practice, work out, staying strong. Overall it's a great feeling. If I can just keep my back solid, I think I will start putting in some low numbers.
Q. Is it tough to trust it again, to just mentally trust that your back is a going to be okay, or that doesn't weigh into it?
GRACE PARK: I can't say it's easy, but I'm just trusting. I just believe that it's going to be okay. As I said, I've had a couple surgeries. I was in rehab for several months. My back is as strong as it's been in I don't know how many years, so I'm very optimistic.
Q. When you withdrew from the Pro Am, did you do anything to get any treatment?
GRACE PARK: Yeah, I have a trainer that I started traveling with. She helps me with, you know, getting all the tightness out of my system. She's a masseuse; she's my trainer; she's my assistant; she's my manager. She's just a multi task girl. She's been helping me a lot with it. And Caroline and Rob in the trailer have been helping me. Lots of Advil, lots of ice. Same old, same old.
Q. Because of the injury and because of the rust, did you come to Mobile with any expectations, or just let's see how we play?
GRACE PARK: You know, definitely more expectations than I had starting the season back in March. I have three tournaments under my belt. I had three weeks to regroup, practice, and really focus on what I learned from those three weeks. This tournament, coming into it I was very looking forward to it. This is a golf course that I'm very familiar with; played well on it. I love the golf course, so I've been looking forward to it. Seems to be working, right?
KAREN STUPPLES, Rolex Rankings No. 93
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Karen Stupples, one of our moms on tour, who's currently at the top of the leaderboard at 4 under at the Avnet LPGA. Karen, just what worked today?
KAREN STUPPLES: You know what, it was quite funny. I didn't know even if I was going to play today, really. Logan, my son, was sick last night, so he couldn't go into day care. My husband now caddies for me, so it was a bit of a drama this morning trying to figure out what we were going to do. Very fortunately we found someone to come and take care of Logan. It was a bit of a rush and a panic, but I think just the fact that something else was going on kind of takes your mind off the importance of actually putting a score together.
I played very, very solidly. I've been working really hard on my game, and everything is starting to slowly come back where I feel like it should be.
MODERATOR: Is Logan okay?
KAREN STUPPLES: I think so. He seemed to be much perkier this morning. I mean, he still wanted to go into day care, but obviously we couldn't go in. They had a big day trip planned today, so he was gutted.
Q. You played here before and you know the course. Did that knowledge help you a lot today, do you feel like, or was it just that you kind of put it on automatic pilot?
KAREN STUPPLES: Yeah, I think so. I mean, I've always played fairly solidly round here. I feel very comfortable her in Mobile in general. Everybody is really very friendly. It's just a nice, nice place. Everything is really cool. And the fact that, yes, I was here at the Tournament of Champions for a number of years, and now that they have done the renovations the course is really terrific. It's really a joy to play, and I think it's always nice to play a place that's fun to play.
Q. The wind was up a little bit. Does that create an adjustment? And do you think the people starting late, that there may be an advantage there?
KAREN STUPPLES: In all fairness, it seemed like just a small little breeze in comparison to yesterday. Yesterday was brutal. Today was a nice stroll. It was a comfortable temperature to play golf in. That little breeze makes it a little bit interesting. There were some holes where particularly on the front side they've got the pins right over bunkers sort of downwind that are almost impossible to get anywhere near the hole. So you have to really play the course very cleverly and take the birdies when they come and be patient and accept pars otherwise.
Q. Do you get bored at all during the break? How much did you want to play this week?
KAREN STUPPLES: Obviously I want to, yeah, play. I'm a competitor. I love to play competitions. That's part of why we're all here. For me, I'm incredibly busy. It probably doesn't weigh on my mind as much as some of the players. Obviously with Logan I'm pretty busy there. I changed coaches, swing coaches, so I've been working through some changes there. So I've had plenty to keep myself busy and occupied.
I've just had some work done on my knee as well. Everything seems so be I always seem to be busy. I never really have much time to sit and think about it. But would I rather be playing? Absolutely. I think everybody would.
Q. What have you been working with Gary on? How has he helped?
KAREN STUPPLES: We went back to a few little basic things. My grip was pretty strong, so I've been working on weakening that. To be honest with you, I think that's going to be a constant battle for me. I'm going to have to keep working on that. We worked a little bit on my backswing, and we're still continuing to work on my downswing. I tend to bend a little bit too much with my knees into the ball. I'm working on trying to maintain my balance a little bit better through the ball. I'm thoroughly enjoying my time with him. He's helped me out tremendously.
Q. I would be remiss if I didn't ask a royal wedding question.
KAREN STUPPLES: Go for it.
Q. Do you care at all?
KAREN STUPPLES: You know, it's a funny question. I mean, obviously I live over here. Do I like the fact they're getting married? Yes, I do. They have been together a long time. I think it's long overdue. Do I like the fact that it's costing so much money? Probably not. But what can you do? I mean, they're figureheads for our country.
You know, I'm actually not too upset that I'm going to be playing golf so I don't have to watch it. I remember watching Charles and Diana. The whole country stopped. We had it playing in school and the whole thing. So I feel like I've done the royal wedding. I don't feel like I need to do another one. But, yes, I'm happy that they're getting married, because they should be. Although I think a funner run would've been if they'd just eloped to Sandals or something. (Laughing.)
STACY LEWIS -4, Rolex Rankings No. 14
Q. Congratulations on shooting a 4-under 68 in the first round. Can you take me through the round, having tallied four birdies and no bogeys?
STACY LEWIS: I was a little bit surprised. I played really good and I was kind of surprised just because I hadn’t been able to practice like I wanted to the last couple weeks. But I was pleasantly surprised. I played really solid. I had a lot of putts around the hole. I just got a couple to drop.
Q. Yesterday you said that you had been feeling good about your play after winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship. To be able to come out here in the first round and continue that play, how good of a feeling is that for you?
STACY LEWIS: It’s nice knowing that I didn’t actually have the time to put the work in and it’s still there. I was just more surprised than anything. I felt good out there. My swing felt good and I don’t know. It just felt good.
Q. How different were the conditions today from the previous days when there was rain and a lot of wind out there?
STACY LEWIS: The course was in good shape. It was pretty dry. Things were rolling out towards the end of the day. The only thing is that we had a completely opposite wind of what we had the last couple days which I liked the wind today. It actually played a little easier, I thought.
Q. During yesterday’s press conference you had talked about length being a key on this golf course. Did you feel like your length was helping you out today?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, it’s more length with your irons and the ability to hit high shots. The greens are firm and to miss it in the right spots around the greens I think that’s the key to not making too many mistakes.
Q. Coming off a win and now being near the top of the leaderboard again, do you have a different mentality at all about being there? Or does your mentality stay the same?
STACY LEWIS: I think I’m more comfortable there. I think Saturday of the Kraft, I was definitely a little uncomfortable with the lead. But I think I’m more comfortable being on the leaderboard and just trying to control what I can control.
SE RI PAK, Rolex Rankings No. 35 and defending champion
MODERATOR: Se Ri, the defending champion, back in the interview room at 3 under par today. Currently one shot off the lead. If you would, just tell us about your day.
SE RI PAK: Well, really glad to be back again. Always after the round come back and do it, that's a good thing. (Laughing.) But actually was pretty difficult this morning, because really windy out there and greens are pretty hard to get the right distance. But as I said, again, I'm trying my best, trying to be patient. So overall, I got another solid round today.
Q. Is that a key, the patience? I mean, because you have been around here before and you understand that. How much of that do you believe was a factor in your round?
SE RI PAK: It is important to be patient out there today. Especially the golf course is perfect conditions. But greens wise it's pretty hard, especially the wind is blowing is even harder.Yeah, I was out there. I making good shots. I'm happy about the results. It's just that off the green, over the greens, making a tough lie, but nothing you can do about it.
So as I said at the end of the round, one or two good putt be in pretty good shape. Maybe in the afternoon a lot better shape, but still the greens kind of firm. So next couple days are going to be fun.
Q. Just how much has your past success here helped? You feel like it's an advantage?
SE RI PAK: Of course. I mean, as I said, you play the golf course pretty well if you win it three times. There's a lot of good thought in the golf course. Give you a lot of confidence, too. So I guess again today, I mean, as I said, (indiscernible). Hopefully do it tomorrow.
Q. Sometimes you've gone through periods where you love the game, and then you've stepped away from the and you then you come back. How do you feel about it now?
SE RI PAK: It was really good to be back again. I think that's what it is, because we're traveling all year long. I mean, when season started we have couple weeks off, but still feel like you have to pack and leave again. So that's actually tough. Still not used to. Still not really fun to do it. I love to play, but travel wise is more difficult thing I guess.
So that's why, as I said, I'm happy be back. Before I feel like I needed more rest, but this year so far I'm feeling great about it. In between enough time to rest, go home, working on some game and play some more. For me, that's so far what I really like about it so far this year. So my game of course makes me happy, and then I really enjoying it.
Q. How much longer do you think you'll play?
SE RI PAK: Not too long. Maybe couple more years. Not as much. I mean, you never know. (Laughter.) Couple more years.
MARCY HART, Rolex Rankings No. 255
MODERATOR: Marcy, great round today, a 2-under 70. Take us through your round a little bit, how things went out there.
MARCY HART: You know, it was pretty solid; pretty uneventful, I would say. Actually, I thought the course was playing really long. I just made a couple longer putts, you know, and I chipped in once. So other than that, it was pretty much mostly pars.
MODERATOR: This season at the Kia Classic you had your first Top 10 in quite a while and that earned you a spot to play in the Kraft Nabisco. It seems like your game has been going really well. What's been the difference for you so far at the start the season?
MARCY HART: It's funny, because I didn't take all of last year off, but I only played three tournaments. Then Reece was born in September, and I didn't really well, I did play a couple of times, you know, a month or two after she was born. But I haven't practiced or played or done a whole lot. Maybe that's the key. (Laughter.)
Q. Has having your daughter kind of changed your perspective, too, about golf and about worrying about how you play or not worrying?
MARCY HART: Yeah, definitely. She's definitely my priority now. I don't get a lot of time to play or practice, but when I do get out there, I got to make it count and make it quality. I don't have all the free time that I used to.
Q. I was looking at your record from the past couple years, and there haven't been a lot of tournaments. Has there been injuries, or just you haven't had that opportunity to play as much?
MARCY HART: Are you talking about last year?
Q. Yeah, last year you only had three tournaments.
MARCY HART: I was pregnant, so I played...
Q. Yeah. The years before though did you play pretty full schedules?
MARCY HART: Yeah.
Q. Okay.
MARCY HART: I mean, pretty much everything. I don't know that I'm trying to think. The last time I went back to Q School was maybe '09, so, yeah, I pretty much played full schedules besides last year.
Q. You said you chipped in. Where did you chip in? You said you had some long putts. Tell us where those were and about how long.
MARCY HART: Let's see, I putted in from the fringe on 15. I made sort of a long ish one on 18. Then I chipped in on 5? Yeah, 5.
Q. You talked about being a mother. When you are out on the practice range or get a chance to practice, I assume that, Okay, this is it. We've got this amount of time. Let's get things in. How has that changed?
MARCY HART: I mean, it's changed a lot. You know, I used to think that I had to spend a ton of time practicing and be out there for, you know, six hours at a time. I definitely don't do that anymore. If I get one hour, it's good.
So, you know, I've been playing more. Like when I was at home just these last few weeks I played more than I practiced. Like I said, it's just not my whole life now. So I think it puts things into perspective for sure.
Q. Are your parents here caddying and baby sitting?
MARCY HART: Yes. Yeah, same routine.
Q. When you're home and practicing, what does fill your time? How much time are you doing that? How is it different? Just like a couple hours?
MARCY HART: You know, I think before I felt like I had to be out there. Okay, this is my job. I have to be out practicing or playing. Now, you know, with her, I would rather spend my time with her. So like I say, she's my priority, my main focus. But then it's like, Oh, maybe I'll go practice for a little bit. So that's I spend most of my time with her. Like I say, I played more than I practiced when I was at home this last time. I would rather play than practice.
ALEXIS THOMPSON, Rolex Rankings No. 100
Q. You shot a 1-under 71 today in your first LPGA event of the 2011 season. Can you talk about your round?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: It actually went really good today. My ball striking turned around, much better than the practice rounds. I hit it real good. I missed a few putts but that’s golf. I hit some good iron shots, I guess. But it was a good round and I had a good group to play with.
Q. This is your first LPGA event of the year, earning a sponsor’s exemption into the Avnet LPGA Classic. Was it good to get back out here playing on Tour?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: Definitely it’s exciting. I played out of the country a few times but it’s nothing like being in the U.S. and playing. I’m really excited. This is my first event of the season to play in and it’s been great. The food has been great [laughs] and obviously the golf course is in amazing shape for us.
Q. Looking forward past the first round, what is going to be the key for you with your golf game the rest of the week?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: I just need to keep hitting it like I did today, very consistent. I need to keep the ball in the fairway and out of the bunkers. That’s about it. I just have to be patient, take pars and then take birdies when you get the chances.
Back to News
Local video features from Avnet LPGA Classic
April 28, 2011 by
Filed under News
Stephanie Louden, Se Ri Pak and Brittany Lincicome were featured on local news stations for the Avnet LPGA Classic. Louden talked about traveling with her familiy, Pak discussed returning to defend her title and Lincicome talked about the golf course and her finish last year.
Avnet LPGA Classic Pre-Tournament Notes and Interviews
April 27, 2011 by
Filed under News
Avnet LPGA Classic
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course
Mobile, Ala.
Pre-tournament notes and interviews
April 27, 2011
Yani Tseng, Rolex Rankings No. 1
Se Ri Pak, Rolex Rankings No. 35 and defending champion
Stacy Lewis, Rolex Rankings No. 14
The Avnet LPGA Classic begins Thursday at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove in Mobile, Ala. The 144-player field features eight of the top-10 ranked golfers in the Rolex Rankings and the winners of the last four major championships as they play the Crossings Course for a $ 1.3 million purse. The event is returning to Mobile for the third time, but many of the players are very familiar with the course since it has hosted LPGA tournaments in 11 of the last past 12 years.
This year's Avnet LPGA Classic field is filled with many of the Tour's biggest names. Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng and defending champion Se Ri Pak lead the star-studded field. Tseng won the season-opening Honda LPGA Thailand and last month finished second in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the season's first major. Also in the field this week are Stacy Lewis, who last month became a Rolex First-Time Winner by outlasting Tseng at the Kraft Nabisco, and LPGA and World Golf Halls of fame member Karrie Webb, who has won twice on the LPGA Tour already this year (HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore and the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup in Phoenix).
Plenty of players will be looking for their first victories of the 2011 season this week including Rolex Rankings No. 3 Cristie Kerr, No. 4 Na Yeon Choi and No. 5 Suzann Pettersen. The field also includes sponsor exemptions Alexis Thompson, the 16-year-old who will be making her first appearance on the LPGA Tour this season, and Blair O'Neal, who won Golf Channel's Big Break: Dominican Republic.
Sweet Home Alabama: Defending champion Se Ri Pak appears to be returning to a place of comfort this week, as she gets set to play the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course. Since 2001, Pak has won a total of three times at this golf course. She tallied victories at the 2001 and 2002 Tournament of Champions and last year she won the 2010 Bell Micro LPGA Classic, which was rain-shortened to 54 holes, in a playoff over Brittany Lincicome and Suzann Pettersen.
Tseng-sational: Yani Tseng will try to continue her strong hold on the world's top spot while playing at the Avnet LPGA Classic this week. Tseng took over the Rolex Rankings No. 1 spot early this season after winning four straight events worldwide, including the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open and ANZ RACV Ladies Open co-sanctioned by the Australian Ladies Open co-sanctioned by Australian Ladies Professional Golf (ALPG) on the Ladies European Tour (LET) and the season-opening Honda LPGA Thailand on the LPGA Tour.
Tseng is looking to make history in 2011. She became the youngest player in LPGA history to win three majors by capturing the 2008 LPGA Championship, 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship and the 2010 RICOH Women's British Open. A victory at this year's U.S. Open will complete Tseng's quest for the Career Grand Slam.
Twice as nice? Stacy Lewis, who became a Rolex First-Time Winner and a major champion by taking a three-stroke victory over Tseng at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, is looking to join Karrie Webb as the second back-to-back winner on Tour this year. Webb captured back-to-back wins at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore and the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.
Of Note…Jaclyn Sweeney and Haru Nomura earned the last two spots in the field via Monday's qualifier. Sweeney shot a 3-under 69 to lead the field and Nomura finished second with a 2-under 70… Six-year-old Bailey Warren of Fultondale, Ala. got a chance to meet her golfing hero, 2009 U.S. Solheim Cup Team member Kristy McPherson, on Tuesday at the Avnet LPGA Classic. At the age of 2, Bailey was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, which is the same arthritis that McPherson has battled since the age of 12. For more information on their meeting, visit http://www.lpga.com/content_1.aspx?pid=28223&mid=2... While the Avnet LPGA Classic is only in its third year, the Crossings Course played host to the Tournament of Champions from 1999-2007. Players in the field this week who won that event are Paula Creamer, Christina Kim, Dorothy Delasin, Karrie Webb and Se Ri Pak.
YANI TSENG, Rolex Rankings No. 1
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Rolex Rankings No. 1 player, Yani Tseng, into the interview room. If you would, just tell us about your year so far and how you feel you've been playing.
YANI TSENG: It's very exciting for me this year, especially the beginning of the year I set a goal for No. 1 in the world, and then after three weeks No. 1 in the world. It's been a couple months, and I really enjoy out here. I don't feel any pressure, you know, because I love to compete all the players, all the great players on the LPGA. I really enjoy out here.
Last three weeks we don't have any tournament. On the tour I miss all the friends, and I can't wait to come back here to play the tournament again.
MODERATOR: Did you do anything fun in the last three weeks?
YANI TSENG: I went to Masters to get award, GWAA award, so I was there. It was fun to be there. It's a very big honor. Then I had a three‑minute speech. I was very nervous about that, but working so hard for my speech. Then I went back home. My friend, my mom's friend was there, and then I have my mom there with me the last two, three weeks. So I enjoy stay with my mom. It's always fun when my mom is around me. Play some golf, and she's always cooking for me, so it was it really good thing. Got some practice with my coach, Gary. It's been fun. I'm enjoy. I had a pretty relaxed sponsor week. But really good enjoy for me.
MODERATOR: You said on the way in you have to get a part‑time job. Is your bank account okay?
YANI TSENG: It's pretty good, yeah. Just get some more tournaments to play. You know, I think the fans miss us out here, too, and I miss all the fans and all the volunteers, and I miss those guys here.
Q. You got off to such a great start, and then you did have three weeks off between the events. How do you stay tournament‑ready, competitive‑ready, during that time?
YANI TSENG: I start practicing last couple weeks. I took first week off, but after I been work with my coach for my tempo, my swing, and get to where I feel I have a lot more energy to come here this week. And I did. I feel I'm fresh. I can't wait for tomorrow for getting off. Feels really good right now.
Q. How does your game fit this course? You feel like it's a course you could do well on?
YANI TSENG: I played this two, three years already and I never done good. Always on Saturday I always go the first in the morning, so I wish this year I could do much, much better. I feel much confidence right now. I played 18 holes today, and I'm seeing the course very well. Just need to get some green speed out there. The wind is very strong, so I just need to be patient and I need to make lots of birdie out there.
Q. Is there a different feeling be the No. 1 player? Setting that goal and then achieving it, how has it been since that time?
YANI TSENG: I still don't feel much different, you know, because I still feel like it's a lot of good player out here. I still need to keep working hard. Still a long way to go. I just do what I can do right now step by step, and then just keep working hard.
Q. I know today is very windy, but what is the most challenging part about this course?
YANI TSENG: I think it's the greens. I heard it's much better than five or four years ago, but I still think the greens, I kind of struggled a little bit on these greens.So I just need to read them better and speed better, and I think will be fine.
SE RI PAK, Rolex Rankings No. 35
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome defending champion, Se Ri Pak, into the interview room. I know last month you finished 10th at the Kraft Nabisco and were playing really well before the break. How do you feel about your game coming of the three‑week break?
SE RI PAK: I feel really, really great. Of course we got good weather for the conditions. We got one tournament, take three weeks off, one tournament, two weeks off. Sometimes you like that, because we been play all year long and we been packing and traveling all year long. So sometimes it's pretty good to break.I really having a great time. And then saw my coach to prepare a little for this week, so I'm ready to go.
MODERATOR: Did you do anything fun over the break?
SE RI PAK: Cleaned the house. (Laughter.) Practice. Wasn't doing too much things. Yeah, hang out with my friends there and that's about it. Just playing golf all the time, so make sure I'm back here and in good shape again.
MODERATOR: You won here last year. What is it about this course that you like, or what do you think about this course suits your game?
SE RI PAK: Well, everybody ask, Why you so good in that golf course, but I don't exactly know why my game suit in this golf course. But the golf course, you kind of ‑‑ you have to make really smart playing. You know, like you're not always hitting straight. Doesn't always have to be great shot on the golf course. But this course you have to think how this shot, next shot, how to make it good, make sure which shot is easier.
I mean, I like that way playing the golf course. Sometimes I'm making my shots differently, you know, then have a lot of ‑‑ not too much communicating with my caddie, but more just partners. We're having fun out there. We chat a little bit about, different kind of shot, this kind of lie, and stuff like that.So, I mean, I guess it's overall my game is pretty good on this golf course.
Q. Because you have won here three times before, is there a great comfort zone coming into this even considering the strong field this week?
SE RI PAK: It is, actually, because you know you won more than once and you have such a great memory about it. This gives a lot of confidence in the golf course. Of course this week going to be another strong field, but that's the way it is on the LPGA Tour.
So, I mean, it is. It makes me a lot of comfortable outside, especially playing today. It was a lot windier, and the golf course is even harder. But it makes me a lot of good feel, good thoughts on the golf course. That's helps a lot.
Q. With the tenth place at the Kraft, you seem to be adding something to your game all year. Is this a good place to wind up at this particular point in the schedule?
SE RI PAK: I think so. I had such a great time off and back here as the defending champ, so it's going to be perfect for myself. I mean, last week ‑‑ first week was a little easier. The last week I've been playing a lot more than practice, you know, my coach, and trying to focus more about the game than the golf course.
I'm here yesterday and today, yeah, it just makes me a lot of comfortable on this golf course. Of course I like the way they change couple holes. They're a lot better, so this make me a lot more enjoyable. So actually every week my game gets better and better, and I like the way it is.
STACY LEWIS, Rolex Rankings No. 14
MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome the 2011 Kraft Nabisco champion, Stacy Lewis, into the interview room. You're coming off your first win. You've had three weeks off. How do you feel about your game heading into this week after the break and coming off such big win for you?
STACY LEWIS: Well, the last couple weeks have been so crazy. I haven't ready had a lot of time to practice and really prepare the way I would have wanted to. But, I mean, I know I'm playing well. It doesn't just go away too quickly. Just trying to get back playing again and get back to somewhat of a normal routine for me.
MODERATOR: Can you describe what the last three weeks have been like? I know you've had a lot of interview requests and appearances.
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I never – I don't think I ever really expected to get the response that I got. It was a little overwhelming, all the people I heard from and all the media requests. I guess I never really expected it, so it kind of overwhelmed me. But I'm getting more used to it. I think it's starting to hit home that I actually won. It feels pretty good.
MODERATOR: To become a Rolex first‑time winner at not just any tournament, but to have it be a major and have it be at the Kraft Nabisco, what were all of your emotions like? Did having the time off afterward help a little bit?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I don't think I slept for three days probably just the adrenaline was still going. But to get your first win, first major, against the best player in the world, I mean, you can't write a better story. It was the perfect place and way to win. I don't know, I'm glad we had a couple weeks off, but I'm ready to get back at it.
MODERATOR: You say you feel good about how you've been playing. Coming to this golf course, how do you feel that it suits your game?
STACY LEWIS: Well, this golf course you usually see players that hit it a long ways are successful. I think if you look at Se Ri, Brittany, and Suzann were in the playoff last year, so probably three of the longest drivers on tour. So I think you need to hit the ball a long ways, which helps me now. We'll see what the weather does, but I think length is the key out here.
Q. Such a different storyline for you from last time you were here playing. Does it seem completely different to you?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I think ‑‑ well, I think I my life changed in about a week ‑‑ or a day, really. I'm just recognized more and things like that. I'm in a different place with my golf game. I feel more confident just being here and being on tour with the people that I'm playing against. I know that I can compete against the people out here and beat 'em most of the time. I think I'm just in a much better place mentally.
Q. How much can that confidence help you with a field like you have this week here?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, I think any time you know you can hang and play with the best players in the world, I think that's half the battle. I think you come out here and you're like, Oh, I don't know if I'm good enough to win. If you know you're good enough to win, I mean, the rest is just playing golf from there.
Q. I'm changing it up a little bit. Night before a tournament starts, your routine, if there is a typical routine, are you a person that likes to get away from golf? Do you play the course in your head? What's your routine the night before?
STACY LEWIS: I don't know. I don't have much of a routine. Just going to dinner with my family or friends. I try to get away from golf and not even really think about it. Especially tomorrow I have a late tee time, so it's really a long time until I play. So I just get away, get away from the course and just kind of relax.
Q. (No microphone.)
STACY LEWIS: I don't know. Sometimes you like the ‑‑ you have a good first round; you want to turn around and play again right away. Sometimes you have a bad one and you want the time to work on it. I don't know, if I can go out and play well tomorrow afternoon, I want to start early again the next day. We have to deal with it every week.
Q. With the weather the way it is today, especially if it rains, what does that do to the course conditions for you personally?
STACY LEWIS: I think we're probably going to get some rain this afternoon. We did yesterday. Just going to make it faster and longer. I think length will be more of a key. I mean, a lot of the holes half the field is probably going to have to hit hybrids into, so you've got to hit it straight and you've got to hit it far.
Avnet LPGA Classic Tournament Preview
April 25, 2011 by
Filed under News
Defending champion and LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Se Ri Pak will headline a star-packed field this week for the Avnet LPGA Classic at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail, Magnolia Grove, Crossings Course. Last year, Pak defeated Brittany Lincicome and Suzann Petterson in a playoff to take the 2010 Bell Micro Championship, which was rain-shortened to 54 holes.
A total of 144 players, including nine of the top-10 in the Rolex Rankings, will compete for a purse of $ 1.3 million this week. Rolex Rankings No. 1 Yani Tseng will look to continue her strong hold on the world's top spot. Tseng won the season-opening Honda LPGA Thailand and finished second in the Kraft Nabisco Championship last month, the season's first major. But she has plenty of challengers in the field this week who are looking for their first victory of the 2011 season including Rolex Rankings No. 3 Cristie Kerr, No. 4 Na Yeon Choi, and No. 5 Suzann Petterson.
Stacy Lewis, who became a Rolex First-Time Winner and a major champion by taking a three-stroke victory over Tseng in last month's Kraft Nabisco Championship, will be in the field. Lewis is looking to join Karrie Webb as the second back-to-back winner on Tour this year. Webb captured back-to-back wins at the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore and the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup.
Also among this year's field for the Avent LPGA Classic is 16-year-old Alexis Thompson, who received one of two sponsor's exemptions. It will be Thompson's first LPGA event in 2011.
This week's Avent LPGA Classic will be the third edition of this tournament in Mobile. The first two years of the event were called the Bell Micro Championship but Avnet, a global technology distributor, acquired Bell Micro in 2010. Angela Stanford won the inaugural Bell Micro Championship in 2008 and she will be in the field again this week. After a year hiatus in 2009, the event returned to Magnolia Grove in 2010 when Pak took the title.
While this particular event has only been held two other times, the Crossings Course played host to the Tournament of Champions from 1999-2007. Players in the field this week who won that event are Paula Creamer, Christina Kim, Dorothy Delasin, Webb and Pak.
Avnet Electronics Marketing Selects Charities of Choice for Avnet LPGA Classic
April 8, 2011 by
Filed under News
Avnet Electronics Marketing Selects Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and Wounded Warrior Project® as Charities of Choice for Avnet LPGA Classic
PHOENIX - April 8, 2011 - Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, title sponsor of the 2011 Avnet LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Classic, has chosen the Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Wounded Warrior Project as their charities of choice for the Avnet Classic. The two charities will be the recipients of a combined donation of approximately $ 2.8 million worth of television and print advertising. This donation gives each organization the much needed opportunity to raise awareness for their respective causes. Each television spot started running in March on all Raycom Media stations across the country. They also will run during the Golf Channel's coverage of the Avnet LPGA Classic - April 27 to May 1, 2011, on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail in Mobile, Alabama. The print advertisements are running in Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. papers across the country.
"Both of these organizations do vital work in the community - one focused on raising breast cancer awareness, and the other in providing financial support for our returning soldiers. Avnet values that work," said Ed Smith, president of Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. "With this donation, we hope their causes can reach a wider audience and share their stories of inspiration and hope."
"When someone in the world dies of breast cancer every 69 seconds, it's critical to reach as many people as possible with information that could save their lives," said Leslie Aun, vice president of marketing and communications at Susan G. Komen for the Cure. "Avnet's generous donation of advertising space will help us share these important messages with millions."
"We are very grateful for the opportunity that Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas is providing to Wounded Warrior Project," said Adam Silva, chief development officer for Wounded Warrior Project. "It is because of generous and engaged organizations like Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas that we are able to reach warriors throughout the country; we are proud to have them join us in our mission of honoring and empowering warriors."
To donate or find out more about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, visit http://ww5.komen.org/ or to donate or find out more about Wounded Warrior Project, visit woundedwarriorproject.org. For more on the Avnet LPGA Classic, visit www.avnetlpgaclassic.com.
Top 10 Are In: World’s Best Coming to Mobile for the Avnet LPGA Classic
April 8, 2011 by
Filed under News
Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings -
All are currently in the Avnet LPGA Classic field
Yani Tseng
Jiyai Shin
Cristie Kerr
Na Yeon Choi
Suzann Pettersen
Ai Miyazato
I.K. Kim
Karrie Webb
Michelle Wie
Paula Creamer
"As the sole LPGA event in April, we anticipated a strong field," said Jonathan Romeo, tournament director. "We were absolutely delighted with the field and look forward to welcoming a new sponsor to this year's event - Avnet. After a massive Crossings course redesign, the Avnet LPGA Classic will be held at Mobile's Magnolia Grove from April 27 to May 1, 2011."
Last May, Se Ri Pak of South Korea won the 2010 BellMicro LPGA Classic in Mobile. Between the strong global field and Avnet as the sponsor, this is truly an international event. Avnet is a global technology distributor and has more than 300 locations worldwide with sales in over 70 countries. The company acquired BellMicro in 2010.
"Spring will be an ideal time to showcase the Crossings course," said John Cannon, president of Sunbelt Golf, which oversees the RTJ Golf Trail. "The course has had even more time to mature and we are looking forward to seeing how reigning champion Se Ri Pak and the other LPGA players will perform on the Crossings Course. For players, sponsors and fans, the new date after Easter should be ideal. With spring weather, fresh seafood and blooming azaleas, Mobile is spectacular in the spring and we look forward to welcoming Avnet, the players and the LPGA fans."
Tickets are already on sale for the Avnet LPGA Classic. To learn more, visit www.avnetlpgaclassic.com or see us on Facebook and Twitter. Several volunteer opportunities are still available and are showcased at www.avnetlpgaclassic.com. For information on the RTJ Golf Trail, visit www.rtjgolf.com.
