Saturday wasn’t the day Stacy Lewis had hoped for, carding three birdies and four bogeys for a 1-over round and a tie for 42nd. The University of Arkansas graduate considers this region to be her second home, and the disappointment over the round was plain to read on her face.
“It was hot and the round was a struggle in general,” said Lewis, who did have fun at No. 17, teaching Shanshan Feng how to “Call the Hogs,” the University of Arkansas cheer that resonates across the golf course. “(I’m) just tired and didn’t putt very good. You know, just glad to have a tee time tomorrow.”
But bring up pink fireworks, and Lewis’s eyes quickly began to sparkle. In front of her closest family and friends on Friday night, Lewis and her husband Gerrod Chadwell found out the gender of her baby – a little girl, due in November – with a small fireworks display behind the clubhouse at Pinnacle C.C.
“I kind of knew all along, so it wasn’t really too much of a surprise,” said Lewis, who said during her pre-tournament press conference that mother’s intuition told her she was carrying a girl. “It was cool just to have the whole family and friends there to be together and to have that time.”
Countdown to Crown
The Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G is the next-to-last chance for players to lock in the opportunity to represent their countries at the UL International Crown, being held at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club Korea in Incheon, Republic of Korea. While the eight participating teams were finalized on June 4 after the U.S. Women’s Open, players and seedings can still adjust ahead of the July 2 cutoff following the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes Golf Club outside Chicago. At that point, the top four players in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings will be locked in for the eight qualified countries.
For Team Korea, In-Kyung Kim, who currently holds the fourth spot at World No. 7, withdrew in Arkansas prior to her second round, citing illness. That could open the door for No. 10 Hye Jin Choi and No. 15 In Gee Chun, though neither are in the NWA field. Choi is competing in this week’s KLPGA tournament, but will not be in the field at Kemper Lakes, while Kim and Chun will compete for the season’s third major title.
The USA’s Lizette Salas, currently sixth on the USA roster at World No. 26, is tied for sixth in Arkansas going into the final round. To make the trip to Korea, she needs to pass No. 16 Michelle Wie, who is tied for 42nd, and No. 21 Danielle Kang, who missed the cut.
No. 91 Hannah Green needed a good week in Arkansas to pull past No. 77 Su Oh and No. 79 Sarah Jane Smith and represent Australia. However, Green struggled to a 6-over 148 and a missed cut. Oh also missed the final round, while Smith will play on Sunday. All three Aussies are in the field at Kemper Lakes.
Finally, the fourth position for Team Thailand has been a revolving door all season. At No. 155, TLPGA/CLPGA player Saranporn Langkulgasettrin currently has the final spot to represent Thailand. However, No. 168 Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong (T32) and No. 185 Thidapa Suwannapura (T6) are both playing well in Arkansas and will both be in the KPMG field.
)
)
)
)
