Scholars, Stars, & Twins
Outside of attending rival schools in UCLA and Stanford, there’s a lot of similarities between Alison Lee and Michelle Wie. Both played professional golf at the highest level while still attending classes to get their degrees at world renowned universities. Both studied communications. And both competed on a winning United States Solheim Cup team before their 21st birthday.
And according to Wie, it goes even further than that.
“I guess she says a lot of people think she’s me, recognize her as me. We’re both tall, Asian, I guess,” Wie said with a laugh. “She’s smart. She’s great and a great player. I’ll do anything I can to help.”
Wie was particularly proud of the steps Lee’s taken to continue to have a life outside of professional golf. She knows the juggle that it requires and was proud of Lee for not pushing school off to later years, which would have been easy to do as a rookie on Tour.
“We’ve talked a lot about it. She just joined a sorority, which I was really proud of her for doing. I’m proud of her,” Lee said. “We’re both the same major. UCLA is a great school, and it’s kind of her passion. Her goal, her dream was to graduate from college, so I commend that a lot. She’s smart and definitely handling it great.”
Even Lee at times isn’t sure how she’s juggled it. Wednesday, for example, she woke up early and went out and got a practice round in before lunch time then proceeded to do school work the rest of the afternoon.
“Honestly, I have no idea. Right after Solheim I took one day off and started school right away and did my apartment and bought books and went to class, did rush,” Lee said. “Yeah, I don’t know how I’m sitting here right now. I don’t know how I survived, but I did it somehow. I feel like it’s all a great experience. I love still being in school and seeing all my friends back at school. I haven’t seen a lot of them since March because I took the spring quarter off, so it was nice to see all of them and friendly faces. I feel like that’s what keeps me going, just seeing a lot of friendly faces and having a great atmosphere and support base supporting me back home.”
Learning From An Old Friend
Xi Yu Lin didn’t have fond memories of this tournament a year ago. Not because the experience wasn’t amazing but because of illness. Safe to say this year is off to a far better start after Lin fired a first-round 6-under-par 65 Thursday to storm into a share of the lead with Alison Lee.
“Well, this is my second year playing this tournament, and last year I was sick first two rounds so I didn’t play very well,” Lin said. “Last year I finished pretty good, so I know I can play well on this course. I’m happy.”
Lin opened with 72 and then 74 a year ago but closed on the weekend with 67 and 68 for a tie for 31st. She continued that string of good play here Thursday on a day where she posted seven birdies with her lone blemish coming on the 18th when she three-putted from about 10 feet. Still, it was hard to walk away annoyed after a career-low 6-under-par 65.
“I guess I was a little too aggressive trying to make another birdie,” Lin said.
Lin was actually the second Chinese player ever behind Shanshan Feng to earn LPGA Tour membership, and Feng’s father worked with Lin’s mother when she was a child and suggested that Xi Yu take up golf. Her mother agreed, so Feng’s father took Xi Yu to the driving range for the first time. From there she was hooked.
Now, she has a chance to become the second consecutive Chinese player to win on this golf course, and she vividly remembers watching Feng's back nine on Sunday of last year.
“I watched her on TV when she played the back nine last year, and so we didn’t really talk about [this course],” Lin said, “but I think I learned lots about how to play this golf course.”
Strong Start
Shanshan Feng fired a final-round 8-under-par 63, a round that tied her career best, to storm into the winner’s circle here a year ago. She got off to a strong start Thursday in her attempt to defend with a 5-under-par 66 that was blemish free until a bogey at the 18th.
“I think overall I did really well. I mean, the last hole there the ball just bounced. It hit something and bounced off. But overall I think I did pretty well today. 5-under,” Feng said. “I’m really happy that I didn’t have too much pressure during the round. I still brought out my A Game. Still three more days to go.”
Numbers To Know
1 - This is the first time either Xi Yu Lin or Alison Lee has ever held a share of the first round lead. Lee has led after the second round twice but not after the first. This would be both’s first career LPGA win.
3 - Inbee Park’s quest to retain her No. 1 ranking got off to a solid start Thursday as her 3-under-par 68 has her three shots up on her challenger, Lydia Ko, who shot even par.
8 - Michelle Wie had eight birdies Thursday, the same amount she had in her final match at the Solheim Cup.
65 - Xi Yu Lin fired a career-low 6-under-par 65 Thursday.
66 - Michelle Wie’s first-round 66 tied her lowest round of the year and is her best opening round of the 2015 season.
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