NO BIG DEAL
Kris Tamulis, a 12-year LPGA veteran, came into this week on the heels of the best result of her 2017 season (T15, Cambia Portland Classic presented by JTBC) and continued her strong play en route to an 8-under 64. It matched the low round of her career, yet the Naples, Fla., native shrugged it off afterward.
Tamulis, with her mother and father in attendance this week, is focusing on the bigger picture that is the threat to the state of Florida presented by Hurricane Irma. She donned the same visor and ribbon that she wore last week in support of Hurricane Harvey relief.
“I think actually just worrying about the hurricane makes me feel like golf’s not a big deal,” Tamulis explained, “so I just hit it where I was looking, made some putts.”
THE KO SHOW
Is Lydia Ko back? Her 7-under 65 on Thursday would seem to imply so – it’s the lowest starting round of Ko’s 2017 season and puts her in prime position, just two shots back of the current lead.
Knowing she hasn’t been as consistent as she would like of late, Ko hopes that the first round of the Indy Women in Tech Championship could serve as a springboard and have her peaking right in time for The Evian Championship, where she captured her first major title in 2015.
“I really haven’t been peaking toward the majors and that’s where you really want to play your best and you work really hard to keep playing consistent to give yourself opportunities,” Ko said. “You know, obviously with our last major next week, you want to go in with good momentum and good results where it gives you confidence. All I can do is just try my best to have a lot of fun.”
OLSON PLAYING WELL AS A NEW HOOSIER
Amy Olson sits three strokes behind Thompson at 6-under 66, which ties for her best round of 2017. The North Dakota native and June newlywed recently began calling the Hoosier State home – her husband, Grant, is the linebackers coach at Indiana State University.
“My putting is historically what I’ve struggled with over my career and that’s really coming around, so I knew if I gave myself opportunities I could go low,” said Olson, who is commuting more than an hour each way to their home in Terre Haute, Ind. “Giving myself some chances and just seeing the putts go in was so much fun, it’s been a long time coming.”
Olson is one of three players tied for sixth, along with Candie Kung and Nanna Koertz Madsen. She is aiming for her first top-10 finish since the 2015 Meijer LPGA Classic, where she finished a career-best T8.
QUICK HITS
- Lexi Thompson’s 9-under 63 is one shy of the competitive course record set by Mike McCullough when the PGA Tour Champions visited Brickyard Crossing Golf Club for the 1999 Comfort Classic.
- Thompson’s 63 is the second-lowest round of her 2017 season, behind her 12-under 61 in the second round of the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
- Sandra Gal finished with a bogey-free 64 in the first round; it was the third 8-under round of her 2017 season.
- Kris Tamulis is seeking her first top-10 finish since a a ninth-place result at the 2016 Blue Bay LPGA.
- Moriya Jutanugarn is the only player inside the top five without an LPGA victory; she has seven top-10 finishes this year, including a career-best runner-up result at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.
- Both native Hoosiers in the field shot even par or better on Tuesday – Erica Shepherd (-1) and Danah Bordner (E).
QUOTABLE
“Actually, because it’s Friday morning, a lot of my friends couldn’t come because they had school, but there will be more later.”
Erica Shepherd on playing in her home state
“I wasn’t really focusing on the majors or, you know, like of course it’s always a goal but I was more just using this year to learn a lot and get comfortable and do my very best and my best was enough.”
2017 LPGA rookie and Iceland native Olafia Kristinsdottir on making it into the field at The Evian Championship, one of her three 2017 major championships
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