CLOSING EAGLE FOR OH
Su Oh’s 6-under 66 was the round of the day on Friday, capped off with a hole-out eagle from the middle of the fairway. Considering the wind and rain that the players endured for a second consecutive day, Oh was quite pleased with where she stands after two rounds.
“Even yesterday, I hit the ball really well,” said Oh, who is two strokes behind co-leaders Jenny Shin and Eun-Hee Ji. “I just missed a lot of putts. But today, just things went a little my way. I chipped in twice and hit a few close shots. Yeah, just didn’t make too many mistakes out there.”
ALTOMARE FINALLY FEELING COMFORTABLE ON TOUR
What a few weeks it’s been for Brittany Altomare. Prior to Sept. 1, the graduate of the University of Virginia had no top-10 finishes and just more than $326,000 in earnings since joining the LPGA Tour in 2016.
Since then, she finished T3 at the Cambia Portland Classic and reached a playoff at the Evian Championship, where she ultimately fell to Anna Nordqvist on the first extra hole. Those two events combined brought in more winnings – $416,670 – than she had earned in the first 36 events of her LPGA career combined.
“I just think that I’m hitting it well and putting it well and the combination of the two finally clicking together has finally helped,” said Altomare, when asked what provided the spark to her invigorated play. She also pointed to her successful player/caddie partnership with former player Dewi Claire Schreefel, who is not on Altomare’s bag for the Asia Swing but left her pupil in good form.
“I think I’ve just felt more and more comfortable out here,” said Altomare. “My caddie throughout the year, Dewi, I think she helped me stay confident and be comfortable in those positions, whereas last year, I didn’t feel so confident and comfortable. I think now with two good experiences under my belt, I can hopefully do something this weekend.”
BIRTHDAY TIME AT MIRAMAR
In what has become a fun tradition at the Swinging Skirts Taiwan Championship, players celebrating a birthday during tournament week each received a small cake and serenade following their rounds on Friday. Wei Ling Hsu (turning 23), Danielle Kang (turning 25) and Jeong Eun Lee (turning 29) all celebrated birthdays today, while Peiyun Chien (turning 26) celebrates on Sunday and Megan Khang (turning 20) celebrates on Monday.
“It’s one of the best surprises you can get,” said Khang, who also enjoyed a bubble tea with her birthday confection. “It’s the perfect day. After a rainy day, something to brighten up your day. You get some cake – immediate smile.”
QUICK HITS
This is the first time since the 2016 Kia Classic that Jenny Shin has been the leader or co-leader through 36 holes; she went on to finish T4
Shin has not missed a single cut in her 21 LPGA events this season, although she withdrew after the first round of the Marathon Classic with a muscle strain
Shin is one of eight players to have played all seven Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championships; her best finish was T14 in 2015
Shin’s second-round 67 is her career best round at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship
Eun-Hee Ji is one of eight players to have played all seven Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championships; her best finish was T2 in 2015, where she held the lead after each of the first two rounds
This is the first time Ji has held a portion of the lead through 36 holes since this tournament in 2015; she went on to finish T2
Brittany Altomare is playing in her first Swinging Skirts LPGA Taiwan Championship; she finished T12 in 2016
Su Oh is playing in her second Swinging Skirts Taiwan Championship; she finished T20 in 2016
QUOTABLE
“You walk into my room and it’s just newspaper everywhere, trying to put it in my shoes, and all these hangers. I feel so bad for the housekeeper that’s cleaning my room today, because there’s no room to like move around.”
- Su Oh, on having to dry her clothes after this week’s rainy conditions
“You don’t need to worry about me doing that.”
- Shanshan Feng, on practicing too much
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