WEATHER COMES INTO PLAY AT WASCANA
Weather was a major factor on Friday afternoon, with winds gusting to 35 mph and temperatures quickly dropping into the mid-60s after reaching 90 at 1 p.m. Winds picked up significantly starting at 11 a.m., giving players in the morning wave a marked advantage on those who played in the afternoon. The scoring average for the morning wave was 71.5, while it was 74.6 for the afternoon wave.
“I kind of was a little flustered in the middle when the wind picked up,” said Angel Yin, who carded both of her bogeys as she adjusted to the changing conditions. “I didn't adjust quickly enough and I wasn't hitting it well.”
Of the players in the top 10, only Ariya Jutanugarn (T4, three strokes behind Yang) played in the afternoon, and she started the day tied for the lead.
YANG PERSONIFIES THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME
For the second consecutive week, Amy Yang finds herself in contention, as the 29-year-old from the Republic of Korea leads by one after 36 holes in Canada and finished one stroke out of a playoff at last week’s Indy Women in Tech Championship presented by Group 1001. But in a moment in Indianapolis that defines the true spirit of the game of golf, Yang essentially self-penalized her way out of the playoff.
According to Golf Channel’s Jerry Foltz, who was walking with her group at Brickyard Crossing, Yang took a drop at No. 7 some 40 yards short of the green, even though the hole marshal was certain that her ball had crossed a hazard right next to the green. That would have entitled her to a drop on the fringe and just a 15-foot par putt. Instead, Yang made double bogey and ended up finishing just one stroke out of the playoff between Sung Hyun Park and Lizette Salas.
“We'd all like to think most players would have done the same, but we all know that isn't true,” said Foltz. “It was one of the greatest displays of integrity any of us have seen in quite some time.”
When asked about the incident, Yang again stood by her actions.
“It cost me two extra shots, but I did my best until the end,” said Yang, who was not sure the marshal had a clear view of where her ball crossed the hazard. “One shot could’ve made a huge difference, but you know, I’m okay. It was a good week, a good experience and I’m improving, so I’m taking away positive things.”
ROLEX WOMEN’S WORLD GOLF RANKINGS PROJECTIONS UPDATE
Ariya Jutanugarn has a mathematical chance to overtake Rolex Rankings World No. 1 Sung Hyun Park with a finish of 24th or better at the CP Women’s Open. If Jutanugarn wins, she is projected to become No. 1 again regardless of where Park finishes. If Jutanugarn finishes second, she would need Park to finish third or worse. Jutanugarn can finish as low as 24th and regain the No. 1 status, depending on where Park finishes.
After 36 holes, Park and Jutanugarn both sit in a tie for fourth at 10-under 134. They are grouped together on Saturday, along with LPGA rookie Maria Torres.
PLAYER NOTES
Rolex Rankings No. 25 Amy Yang (65-65—131, -13)
- Yang is competing in her 10th CP Women’s Open; she has a best finish of T14 in 2016 and has missed only one cut
- Her 36-hole score of 131 is the lowest of her LPGA career; she had previously shot 132 on three occasions, most recently at last week’s Indy Women in Tech Championship driven by Group 1001
- Her second-round 65 and first-round 66 are her two best rounds in her 10 CP Women’s Opens
- Through 36 holes, she has hit 18 of 28 fairways and 31 of 36 greens
- This is Yang’s 16th event of the 2018 season; she has a best finish of third at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic, the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic and the Indy Women in Tech Championship driven by Group 1001
- Yang has three career victories – the 2013 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship, the 2015 Honda LPGA Thailand and the 2017 Honda LPGA Thailand
Rolex Rankings No. 14 Brooke Henderson (66-66—132, -12)
- Henderson is competing in her seven CP Women’s Open; she has a best finish of T12 in 2017, where she had a third-round 63
- Her 36-hole score of 132 is the lowest of her 2018 season, besting the 133 she shot at the Marathon Classic presented by Owens-Corning and O-I
- Her 132 is tied for the second-lowest 36-hole score of her LPGA career; she shot a 130 en route to a win at the 2017 Meijer LPGA Classic and returned a 132 at the 2016 Reignwood LPGA Classic
- Through 36 holes, she has hit 20 of 28 fairways and 28 of 36 greens
- This is Henderson’s 21st event of the 2018 season; she won the LOTTE Championship presented by Hershey and has seven other top-10 finishes
- Henderson has six career victories, including one major (2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship)
- Henderson is trying to become just the second Canadian winner of the CP Women’s Open; Jocelyne Bourassa won the tournament in 1973 when it was the La Canadienne
Rolex Rankings No. 44 Angel Yin (65-67—132, -12)
- Yin is competing in her third CP Women’s Open; she finished T22 in 2017 and missed the cut in 2016
- Her 36-hole score of 132 is the lowest of her LPGA career; she had previously shot 133 on three occasions, most recently at last week’s Indy Women in Tech Championship driven by Group 1001
- Through 36 holes, she has hit 18 of 28 fairways and 29 of 36 greens
- This is Yin’s 20th event of the 2018 season; she has three top-10 finishes, with a best finish of third at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
- Yin is looking for her first LPGA victory
QUICK HITS
- After 18 holes, Brooke Henderson is the low Canadian at T2 (-12); the low Canadian player after 72 holes will win the Sandra Post Award
- As the only amateur to make the cut, reigning Canadian Women’s Amateur and U.S. Girls’ Junior champion Yealimi Noh will win the Marlene Streit Award
- The second round saw 27 sub-par scores (all birdies) at No. 17, which amounts to $135,000 raised on Friday and $300,000 overall for the Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital via the CP Birdies for Heart program, which donates $5,000 per sub-par score
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