JENNIFER SQUARED TO TAKE ON FINAL GROUPING TOMORROW
Two bogey-free 65s. Two rounds with six birdies each. Two Jennifers, both looking for their first win on the LPGA Tour.
Jennifer Song and Jennifer Kupcho made the most of moving day at ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer. Both played their way into tomorrow’s final grouping and sit in a tie for second at -14 overall, one shot off Mel Reid’s 54-hole lead.
For Song, this is the second time since the season resumed play that she’ll be chasing the lead from the final group. At the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Song started the last day two shots off the lead, and ultimately ended in a tie for seventh.
“I like to be in contention, but I like to stay behind so I can catch the leaders going into the final round. So I'm exactly where I want to be,” said Song. “It would be awesome to go home with a victory. To be honest, nothing is done until I finish that final putt in the final round so I'm not really thinking about that. I'm just going to focus on my game.”
Kupcho played in Galloway, N.J., for the first time in 2019, her second event as a professional on the LPGA Tour. She finished in a tie for 43rd and by the end of her rookie year, earned three top five finishes including a tie for second result at The Evian Championship. She’s made some adjustments since her last appearance at Seaview, but first and foremost on the agenda for tomorrow is to take care of her body.
“I'm having a little bit of back issues this tournament, so working on that and just going out and playing the best I can,” said Kupcho. “I came out here not knowing if I could play, I was in so much pain. Luckily, I was able to fight through and really focus on making every swing the best that I can. I'm going to just go out and do that tomorrow.”
RYANN O’TOOLE IN THE HUNT FOR HER FIRST LPGA TITLE
After a 7-under 64 on the first day of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, Ryann O’Toole was a little disappointed in her even-par round on Friday. Finding the positives where she could, O’Toole canceled out three bogeys on the scorecard with seven birdies for a third-round 65 to reach -11 overall, four shots back of lead in Atlantic County.
“I would love to shoot 7-under every round, but I feel like all of us strive for that and it doesn't happen,” said O’Toole. “Just seeing the consistency this week and it wasn't just a fluke the first round feels good. I see consistency as far as irons, giving myself birdie opportunities, starting to putt on my lines. So, yeah, I feel like I'm in a good place. Trying to get into next week as best as I can, keep myself in position.”
O’Toole also has a fluffy friend—her English bulldog Hank—waiting back in her housing, who will be happy to see her no matter any way she scores. It’s the first time she’s brought any one of her four dogs on the road with her since joining the LPGA in 2011, and O’Toole is thrilled to have Hank with her.
“He's been a nice distraction, having a dog is like having a kid on the road. I get done here and I'm like, I got to go rescue him now,” said O’Toole. “I wake up and have to add that to my routine in the morning, take him to the bathroom and walk him a little bit. I feel like it's kind of kept my mind from sitting there in silence just thinking about golf. It's been a nice distraction. That is also a question my parents asked, ‘Is he coming with you every week now?’ I'm like, ‘Oh, man, I don't know.’”
Two bogey-free 65s. Two rounds with six birdies each. Two Jennifers, both looking for their first win on the LPGA Tour.
Jennifer Song and Jennifer Kupcho made the most of moving day at ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer. Both played their way into tomorrow’s final grouping and sit in a tie for second at -14 overall, one shot off Mel Reid’s 54-hole lead.
For Song, this is the second time since the season resumed play that she’ll be chasing the lead from the final group. At the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Song started the last day two shots off the lead, and ultimately ended in a tie for seventh.
“I like to be in contention, but I like to stay behind so I can catch the leaders going into the final round. So I'm exactly where I want to be,” said Song. “It would be awesome to go home with a victory. To be honest, nothing is done until I finish that final putt in the final round so I'm not really thinking about that. I'm just going to focus on my game.”
Kupcho played in Galloway, N.J., for the first time in 2019, her second event as a professional on the LPGA Tour. She finished in a tie for 43rd and by the end of her rookie year, earned three top five finishes including a tie for second result at The Evian Championship. She’s made some adjustments since her last appearance at Seaview, but first and foremost on the agenda for tomorrow is to take care of her body.
“I'm having a little bit of back issues this tournament, so working on that and just going out and playing the best I can,” said Kupcho. “I came out here not knowing if I could play, I was in so much pain. Luckily, I was able to fight through and really focus on making every swing the best that I can. I'm going to just go out and do that tomorrow.”
RYANN O’TOOLE IN THE HUNT FOR HER FIRST LPGA TITLE
After a 7-under 64 on the first day of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, Ryann O’Toole was a little disappointed in her even-par round on Friday. Finding the positives where she could, O’Toole canceled out three bogeys on the scorecard with seven birdies for a third-round 65 to reach -11 overall, four shots back of lead in Atlantic County.
“I would love to shoot 7-under every round, but I feel like all of us strive for that and it doesn't happen,” said O’Toole. “Just seeing the consistency this week and it wasn't just a fluke the first round feels good. I see consistency as far as irons, giving myself birdie opportunities, starting to putt on my lines. So, yeah, I feel like I'm in a good place. Trying to get into next week as best as I can, keep myself in position.”
O’Toole also has a fluffy friend—her English bulldog Hank—waiting back in her housing, who will be happy to see her no matter any way she scores. It’s the first time she’s brought any one of her four dogs on the road with her since joining the LPGA in 2011, and O’Toole is thrilled to have Hank with her.
“He's been a nice distraction, having a dog is like having a kid on the road. I get done here and I'm like, I got to go rescue him now,” said O’Toole. “I wake up and have to add that to my routine in the morning, take him to the bathroom and walk him a little bit. I feel like it's kind of kept my mind from sitting there in silence just thinking about golf. It's been a nice distraction. That is also a question my parents asked, ‘Is he coming with you every week now?’ I'm like, ‘Oh, man, I don't know.’”
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