So Yeon Ryu and Kelly Shon Set Pace Early
So Yeon Ryu and Kelly Shon were both hoping to break out of funks in Grand Rapids at the Meijer LPGA Classic. Ryu, the No. 6 ranked player in the world, doesn't have a win yet this season and has just a pair of top 10s while Shon has missed six cuts in 11 starts.
They both took big steps in the right direction on Thursday in round one.
Playing in the morning wave with sunshine and ideal scoring conditions, Ryu and Shon posted matching 64s within an hour of each other. It was Ryu's best round since the 2017 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship when she splashed a 10-under while it was Shon's lowest round since the 2017 KPMG Women's PGA Championship when she also turned in an 8-under.
Both Shon and Ryu made the front nine of Blythefield Country Club look easy. Ryu made five birdies and turned in 31 while Shon made five birdies and an eagle and finished in 29.
For Ryu, putting has been the determining factor on how well she plays and she had the flatstick working.
"I think my long game has been really consistent and I've been working really hard with my coach and we've been really focused on speed control on the greens," explained Ryu. "It finally paid off today."
Shon said she hasn't smiled this much on the golf course all year.
"Just seeing it go in, it builds confidence and it just feels nice, which gives you a good flow to the round just overall," said Shon. "I've been keeping my head down, just working as hard as I could doing the same things, and so yeah, to be honest, I have been kind of been waiting for a round like this."
Ryu is looking for her sixth career LPGA win while Shon is looking for number one.
Nordqvist Has Best Afternoon Wave Round
Anna Nordqvist and Su Oh had the best two afternoon wave showings in round one of the Meijer LPGA Classic. They each turned in 6-under, 66s to stand in a tie for third.
Nordqvist turned in a clean scorecard with four birdies on the front nine and two on the back. Her putter was sharp as she attempted just 27 strokes on the green.
The 6-under was her best round of the 2018 season.
"I felt very solid from tee to green," said Nordqvist. "I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens, had a few short birdie opportunities too so that always helps."
Nordqvist admitted some frustration with her season at the midway point. She hopes a round like this helps to turn it around.
"I've had a really rough start to the year. I haven't really felt like myself, but just trying to make a few changes the last couple weeks and get on a better roll. I know good golf is ahead of me, but it has definitely been frustrating."
Nordqvist missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open two weeks ago, but rebounded last week with a T17 finish at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
Lexi Thompson Strong Again in Grand Rapids
History tends to repeat itself in golf. Lexi Thompson is living proof of that. In her career at Blythefield Country Club, she has a win, a T4 and a tie for second.
On Thursday, Thompson started with a 4-under, 68.
"I didn't take advantage of a few of the easier pin locations on the front nine, a few of the birdie holes, but I had an eagle there on eight and that kind of kickstarted things," explained Thompson, who made both of her bogeys on the first nine. "I started to feel a lot more comfortable and just went for it on the back nine."
Thompson dropped birdies on 10, 11, 14 and 16.
"I love this golf course. It's always in great shape for us, but I think just the whole tournament in general, it's one of our best," said Thompson after her round. "I just fired at all the pins on the back nine and definitely took advantage of hitting it more solid and just being more confident over my shots."
Thompson will take aim at her first win of the season over the next three days.
Celine Herbin Riding Wave of ShopRite
Celine Herbin started the ShopRite LPGA Classic with a 66. She did the exact same thing on Thursday in Grand Rapids with a 66.
Herbin finished T10 last week for the first top 10 of her LPGA career.
"It definitely helps to feel more confident about your game," said Herbin about the momentum she has into this week. "It's a new tournament, so new week, new course, new conditions. We have to forget last week and focus on this week"
Last was a major boost for Herbin, who missed the cut in five of her first six starts this season.
She has now posted a 66 in three of her last four rounds.
"Obviously, it is a nice way to begin a tournament. I am happy with how I hit the ball today. I was very steady. I didn't miss too many shots really and I enjoyed it."
)
)
)
)
