Gerina Mendoza didn’t have a good range session on Thursday before the opening round of the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. That actually proved to be a good omen for the 37-year-old LPGA Tour veteran. Mendoza fired an 8-under 64 on day one at Blythefield Country Club, carding 7 birdies and an eagle to post her best score since the 2017 Dana Open presented by Marathon (63).
“I've been trying to work on being more consistent,” said Mendoza, who hit 11 of 13 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in round one. “That's kind of been my mantra my whole career. It's been kind of all over the map recently, but I just really tried to focus on a spot in front of my ball and really commit to that line and to my swing. I think I did that all day today, minus maybe one shot, but it was a drive that didn't kill me. I just ham-and-egged it and kept it in front of me, and that's kind of what you got to do out here.”
Mendoza is making her seventh start in the Meijer LPGA Classic this week – her best finish came in 2015 when she finished T2 – and her opening 64 is the second-lowest first-round score of her career. It’s also just the second time she’s shot 64 in her 13-year career. While it’s a hot start, and one that’s giving her a ton of confidence heading into the rest of the week at a place she’s had success before, Mendoza knows better than to get ahead of herself and will remain focused on the process as she readies herself for three more days at Blythefield.
“I never thought I would be thankful for my lack of memory, and so hopefully that will kick in tonight and I can just kind of start over,” she said. “I am probably going to be a little nervous tomorrow, but just going to focus on – like process-wise. I've learned over the years if you stick with the process the results kind of take care of themselves. And so there is only one thing I can control, and that's my thoughts and my commitment and that's what I'll do tomorrow.”
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