Maria Torres is naturally fast. She walks fast, talks fast, laughs her big, infectious laugh in the rapid staccato of a piston-driven engine and sets a pace of play on the golf course that would be the envy of club managers around the globe. On her own, a leisurely round with Torres would be over in less than two hours.
She is the perfect playing partner on the LPGA Tour, someone who is always friendly and never slow. If you’re put on the clock, you can rest assured it isn’t Torres’ fault. So, the pace at this year’s Marathon Classic, where players did not have the distractions of moving spectators, suited the 25-year-old Puerto Rican perfectly.
“I feel really good, comfortable out there on the course. I'm just trying to get the rhythm, and the pace of play was amazing. It was fast and let's get it going,” Torres said after shooting a 67 on Saturday to stand alone in sixth place with one round to go. “I had more rhythm in my playing, and also I changed my driver and woods back to some old ones (I’d played with before). So, I'm super happy with the change.
“I don't know. I'm finding the rhythm after so much time practicing and not playing tournaments.”
Torres has posted three top-10 finishes in two full seasons on the LPGA Tour with her best finish, a tie for fourth, coming last September at the Indy Women in Tech Championship. And while she would love to go out first on Sunday at Highland Meadows to set the pace for the field, she will be much happier if the late weekend starting times continue.
I just want to keep the rhythm. I really loved it. Just go out there and play, and then we will see.
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