The putting success wasn’t in the details on Friday for Lindsey Weaver, but rather the feel of her new flatstick as she carded a 6-under 65 in the first round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G.

“Both still Ping. The first one was a Voss and the other [new] one, I don’t even know what it is. But it is more of a mallet shape,” Weaver said after signing for her career-low score. “I was using that earlier in the summer, then switched to my blade putter and just switched back [again] yesterday. I brought like three or four [putters] in my car when I drove here, so I think I figured it out.”

As long as it gets the job done, who cares what it’s called. But for the sake of knowing, Weaver now has a DS 72 in the bag. The mid-mallet utilizes a steel weight in the heel and tungsten in the toe to stabilize the head and create high forgiveness on the greens. It also provides Weaver the type of confidence that one needs to secure their first LPGA Tour win.

“My putting was pretty good today. First time in a while that I've made some good putts like my old self, so that was great,” said Weaver. “I hit a lot of close shots, which is always helpful.”

Making her third career start at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark., Weaver is hoping to build off her 2020 result of a tie for 21st. “The greens are just so soft this year and I feel like those courses are best for me,” Weaver said. “ I know this course a lot more, and it's nice drawing on fond memories from last year when I was playing well.”

Ace for Nasa Hatoka

Three years after winning the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, Nasa Hataoka made a hole-in-one on No. 11, hitting it from 135 yards with a 9-iron.

“When I actually hit it, it didn't get very good contact, but I thought it would kind of stop at the top but kind of got on the slope and came down and got the hole-in-one,” said Hataoka, whose ace on Friday was the third of her LPGA Tour career.

Hataoka’s ace is her first since the third round of the 2018 Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. For the hole-in-one, CME Group will donate $20,000 to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is leading the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The 2021 season has now seen 14 aces for a total of $280,000 donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“I'm really glad that it's really helping out the St. Jude's Children's Hospital,” said Hataoka. “Besides me being happy with my hole-in-one, it's really wonderful.”

Weaver Watches Putts Roll in With New Flatstick

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