Paula Creamer shoots her best round of 2017

Paula Creamer hasn’t shot a round as low as her Wednesday 66 (6-under) since a year ago, and she credits a change in her putting style for the low round.

Creamer, 30, has been putting with the left-hand-low method for the last three seasons. She switched back to a conventional grip this week, and the improvements showed immediately.

“I putted really well,” said Creamer. “This is my first week back doing that and using my line, and it seems to be doing pretty good so far.”

Creamer made seven birdies and a lone bogey on Wednesday is tied for the lead with Mi Hyang Lee. She said the golf course played much different than she was used to, mostly on account of the unpredictable conditions.

“It’s playing much longer,” she said of the Ko Olina Golf Club. “In the past we’ve been getting tons of roll-out with the tee shots. Who would’ve thought we would play lift, clean, and place, but it was the right decision especially with the downpour.”

Lizette Salas takes advantage of good vibes in Hawaii

After a five-under-par 67 in Hawaii, Lizette Salas credits a discussion with her caddy last week, and some positive vibes at the Ko Olina Golf Club, for her tremendous start at the LOTTE Championship presented by Hershey.

“Duing the off week Benito, my caddy, stayed at my parents’ house and we got to practicing and evaluated the first three events. We came to an agreement that we kind of started off pretty slow, just cruising and not being really aggressive, we put ourselves in really tough positions come Friday to make cuts,” Salas admitted. “This week we really just tried to be aggressive from the get-go.”

The revised approach for Salas paid off, as she made seven birdies Wednesday, including a stretch of four-in-a-row on the back nine.

“When I get in a groove on the greens, that’s really when I can go deep,” said Salas, who owns the course record with a 10-under-par 62. “I made a few putts outside 20 feet today that really just gave me that extra confidence to make more and try to make the least amount of mistakes.”

Salas said her mother is flying in Wednesday evening (Hawaii-time) and will be “excited” at how well she played. Although Hawaii will be somewhat of a relaxing atmosphere, Salas explained she still has a job to do on the course, and is excited at her ability to execute on her new, more aggressive, approach.

“I’m just trying to take it as relaxed as possible, but at the same time think of the process, the shot you want to hit, and just commit to it,” she said.

Michelle Wie admits being ‘tired’ in round one; looks forward to Thursday

Despite Michelle Wie being back on, essentially, home soil this week, the native Hawaiian admitted she was in need of rest after a 1-under-par 71 Wednesday left her well back of the leaders.

“I made a couple of mental errors out there but for the most part I’m happy finishing under par,” she said. “I’m excited to get some rest before the next round and hopefully get low.”

Wie admitted she had an excellent round with playing partners In Gee Chun and Brooke Henderson (although they “make (her) feel a little old”), saying it was a fun day despite high winds and the eventual arrival of wet weather.

“I definitely need to make a lot more birdies coming in, but I’m excited,” Wie explained.

During the round, Wie also experienced the admiration of fans from her native Hawaii, many of whom were just champing at the bit to get a piece of Wie.

“It’s great coming home,” said Wie. “I love playing in front of everyone from Hawaii, and it’s great playing in front of a home crowd. “I definitely feel the love, and it’s an honour to come back.”

Beth Allen plays front nine for the first time during first round

With a hearty laugh, Beth Allen admitted she hadn’t played the front nine yet this week, until Wednesday’s first round.

It worked out well enough for her, as she co-leads after the first round thanks to a 5-under-par 67.

“I’ve done it before. I’m pretty laid back and I’ve got an awesome caddy who was here early and she did all the work and I trust her. She tells me where to go, I listen,” said Allen with a laugh. “Usually it works out alright.”

Allen made six birdies Wednesday against a lone bogey on the par-3 8th.

She said, as a native Californian, playing in Hawaii reminds her of home, and of Spain, where she has always played well.

Allen said she struggled after the ANA Inspiration two weeks ago and enjoyed some time to herself, recharging, before heading to the Lotte Championship this week. She hung out with her friends and enjoyed time with her young goddaughter last Tuesday to hit some shots, which, she said, was a nice way to get back into things.

“I worked really hard and did some stuff with my coach on the Internet after that, worked on a couple things, and then when I practiced on Sunday I felt really good coming out here,” she stated.

Alena Sharp off to a great start

After three-straight missed cuts, Alena Sharp came to Hawaii feeling much better with her game, and after a bogey-free 5-under-par 67 Wednesday, her hard work is starting to pay off.

“I just feel I worked hard in the off week,” said Sharp. “This last month hasn’t been great, but I really practiced hard and worked on my weaknesses last week, and I feel positive going into this week.

Sharp made three birdies on the front nine and added two more on the back nine, and sits just one shot back of the lead held by Mi Hyang Lee and Paula Creamer.

The Canadian admitted Wednesday she had been playing well but was struggling with her putting the last few weeks. She worked on her short game last week, though, and came to Hawaii with a renewed sense of focus.

“I looked at my stats, talked to my coach and from 4 to 12 feet I haven’t been making as many as I usually do,” she said. “That’s what I worked on a couple hours a day, doing drills and making them until I got to the point where I couldn’t concentrate anymore.”

LOTTE Championship Presented By HERSHEY Opening Round Notes and Interviews

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