ANNIE PARK LOOKING TO WIN BEFORE SHE WALKS

Annie Park currently sits in a tie for fifth heading into the weekend at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic.

“I actually struggled a little bit today,” Park admitted. “Shots were great, putts weren’t really falling, so I had some really good shots but then left some putts out there, but, I mean, overall it was pretty good out there.”

While Park is happy to be on the first page of the leaderboard heading into the weekend she is looking forward to the off week as she will be walking for graduation at USC.

“As soon as I get back, it’s going to be all, like, hectic getting my cap and gown,” Park said. “I only have two more classes after that, so I will officially graduate in December. Yeah. It will be crazy. My mom and sister and a friend are coming over, so it will be a great week.”

Before then, Park will look to improve on her best finish on the LPGA Tour, a tie for ninth at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open.

“I battled the last few tournaments, but I mean, it’s nice,” Park said of being in the hunt. “Hopefully I can keep it up. “

LAETITIA BECK BATTLES NERVES BUT HANGS AROUND

Sleeping on the lead for the first time in her LPGA career, Laetitia Beck was able to post a 1-over round of 73 to sit a mere three shots back of So Yeon Ryu’s lead.

“I knew it was going to be there,” Beck admitted of the nerves. “So I just came into the day with the purpose of enjoying and learning from this experience and embracing the fact that I am going to be extremely nervous and try to learn from it.”

Beck got off to a hot start with birdies on her first two holes but faded on the front with a trio of bogeys in her next four holes but was able to right the ship coming in with 11 pars, a birdie and a bogey.

“I’m going to learn from today and hopefully handle the pressure a little better tomorrow,” Beck said. “I made some club selections in the beginning and some putts didn’t drop. I think I putted poorly today, so just going to work on my tee shots and hope that tomorrow will be better.”

GERINA PILLER GETS INTO THE MIX

Gerina Piller moved up 13 spots on the leaderboard after the second round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic on Friday. Looking to grab her first win on Tour, Piller finished out the day carding a 68 to move to 5-under for the week.

“I’m really confident out here,” Piller said. “I’m hitting the ball well and I feel like me and my caddie are doing some good work out there on the course.”

Piller, who has top-10 finishes in five of her past six events, played alongside fellow long hitters Ariya Jutanugarn and Brittany Lincicome and said that all three bombers have an advantage on the Senator Course.

“You can cut some corners and fly some of the bunkers that maybe some of the other girls have to try to avoid,” Piller said. “It’s still pretty tricky, with the crosswind. You just have to be patient with the wind. If it continues to blow, you just make your putts. The greens are rolling phenomenal, so you can get the putter going.”

Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic Round 2 Notes

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