With winds gusting up to 22 mph during the morning round on Friday, Blythefield Country Club wasn’t playing easy at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. But, two-time LPGA Tour winner Carlota Ciganda used the conditions to her advantage, carding a 7-under 65 to sit three shots back of the lead in solo third heading into the weekend.
“The key was that I hit a lot of greens both days, yesterday and today. It's pretty tricky with the wind and if you don't hit the greens, it's just harder to make those putts for par,” Ciganda said. “The wind was helping, maybe 20 yards of help. You have lots of wedge shots, or at least I did, and then, if you make putts you can score. There are some really good scores on this course.”
Ciganda has hit 29 of 36 greens through two rounds and has carded three eagles, making three on the eighth hole on both Thursday and Friday. Day two in Michigan saw Ciganda make up for three bogeys with six birdies and two eagles, including one on the final hole. Her drive on 18 found the rough and she managed to get a nine-iron to the green from 160 yards, ultimately burying the putt for eagle. The Spaniard, who ranks 13th in average driving distance this season, says her performance on Blythefield’s five par 5s has been the key to her low scores the first two days. Ciganda made birdie or better on 8 of the 10 she’s played so far.
“The par-5s this week, they are reachable for me, at least three of them are pretty comfortable,” she said. “I do think a couple of the par-5s, they could be almost par-4s. So if I hit a good drive, I have a good chance of making a three or four. Maybe it's because the wind is really strong. I think (this course) is almost like a par 71.”
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