Lewis, Stanford close in on leader Jutanugam

Lewis, Stanford close in on leader Jutanugam










Kevin Dunleavy, The Sports Xchange May 3, 2013 8:00 PMThe SportsXchange



JAMES CITY, Va. - Americans Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford shot the same score (68) in the first two rounds of the Kingsmill Championship. But there was little question which day they played better.

With the sun baking Kingsmill in the morning and swirling winds whipping off the James River, conditions turned hard and fast on Friday, a departure from the opening round when players were permitted to lift, clean, and place on the saturated fairways of the River Course.

After a day of retreat for many, Lewis (68-68 - 136) and Stanford (68-68 - 136) matched the best score of the day and are at 6-under-par, one shot behind Ariya Jutanugarn (64-71 - 135) at the midway point at Kingsmill.

Jutanugarn, a 17-year-old from Thailand who entered on a sponsor's exemption, played in the afternoon when the sun disappeared, the temperatures dipped into the mid-50s, and the day turned raw. After blitzing the River Course with nine birdies on Thursday, Jutanugarn needed 12 holes to make one on Friday. But after playing the first eight holes in 3-over-par and falling two shots behind, she played the rest in 3-under to regain the lead.

Two strokes back are a pair of past Kingsmill champions, American Cristie Kerr (66-71 - 137) and Norway'sSuzann Pettersen (68-69 - 137). The 35-year-old Kerr, who won at the River Course in 2005 and 2009, is the only two-time champion in the eight-year history of the event. Pettersen captured the title in 2007.

On a day when only 20 players broke par, a feat which 72 accomplished on Thursday, some took a precipitous fall, including Dewi Claire Schreefel (67-78 - 145), Hee Young Park (68-77 - 145), and Jennifer Rosales (69-77 - 146), who missed the cut by a stroke.

As the course grew teeth, it was not a day for those who lacked tournament experience. The 35-year-old Stanford, who hit 14 greens in regulation and took 29 putts for the second straight round, called it "Groundhog Day." Upon further reflection, she revised her opinion.

"Yesterday I was sad I left some out there," Stanford said. "I felt like I got the most out of today."

Among a group of six players within three strokes of the lead are reigning LPGA champion Shanshan Feng (69-69 - 138), 2011 U.S. Women's Open champion So Yeon Ryu (67-71 - 138), Ai Miyazato (68-70 - 138), and 52-year-old Juli Inkster (69-69 - 138), a seven-time major champion.

Bucking the trend of experienced players emerging at Kingsmill is former South Carolina All-American Katie Burnett (68-70 - 138), who continued her strong play after making the tournament via sponsor's exemption. This is only the second LPGA event for the 23-year-old.

Notes: Among the name players who missed the cut were 2004 Kingsmill champion Se Ri Pak (72-74 - 146), Michelle Wie (73-73 -- 146), Morgan Pressel (74-76 - 150), and Christina Kim (76-80 - 156).

Lewis, Stanford gain on leader Jutanugarn

Lewis, Stanford gain on leader Jutanugarn










Kevin Dunleavy, The Sports Xchange May 3, 2013 9:10 PMThe SportsXchange


JAMES CITY, Va. -- Americans Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford shot the same score (68) in the first two rounds of the Kingsmill Championship. But there was little question which day they played better.

With the sun baking Kingsmill in the morning and swirling winds whipping off the James River, conditions turned hard and fast on Friday, a departure from the opening round when players were permitted to lift, clean, and place on the saturated fairways of the River Course.

After a day of retreat for many, Lewis (68-68 - 136) and Stanford (68-68 - 136) matched the best score of the day and are at 6-under-par, one shot behind Ariya Jutanugarn (64-71 - 135) at the midway point at Kingsmill.

Jutanugarn, a 17-year-old from Thailand who entered on a sponsor's exemption, played in the afternoon when the sun disappeared, the temperatures dipped into the mid-50s, and the day turned raw. After blitzing the River Course with nine birdies on Thursday, Jutanugarn needed 12 holes to make one on Friday. But after playing the first eight holes in 3-over-par and falling two shots behind, she played the rest in 3-under to regain the lead.

"On the back nine my putting got better, but I still missed a lot of short putts," Jutanugarn said.

Two strokes back are a pair of past Kingsmill champions, American Cristie Kerr (66-71 - 137) and Norway'sSuzann Pettersen (68-69 - 137). The 35-year-old Kerr, who won at the River Course in 2005 and 2009, is the only two-time champion in the eight-year history of the event. Pettersen captured the title in 2007.

Also two back is Germany's Sandra Gal (68-69 - 137).

"Yardages don't really matter. It's controlling the spin," Pettersen said of the rugged conditions. "On a day like today, you gotta play smart. You gotta pick the right club at the right time, with the right gust. Today was a day where you could easily take yourself out of the pack."

On Friday only 20 players broke par, a feat which 72 players accomplished on Thursday. Some took a precipitous fall, including Dewi Claire Schreefel (67-78 - 145), Hee Young Park (68-77 - 145), and Jennifer Rosales (69-77 - 146), who missed the cut by a stroke.


As the course grew teeth, it was not a day for those who lacked tournament experience. The 35-year-old Stanford, who hit 14 greens in regulation and took 29 putts for the second straight round, called it "Groundhog Day." Upon further reflection, she revised her opinion.

"Yesterday I was sad I left some out there," Stanford said. "I felt like I got the most out of today."

Before hitting their approach shots, many players examined tree-tops, trying to gauge the swirling winds. Judging shots became more difficult as players reached the treacherous final three holes, which play close to the river.

"It was blowing when we started, but it was probably midway through the front nine when it really started to blow pretty good," Lewis said. "It's drying out the course. So [on] the downwind holes, it's releasing on the greens and it's definitely affecting some putts. The 18th hole is playing brutal today. They moved the tee up and I still hit a 4-iron into the green."

On a quality leaderboard, four of the top six are ranked in the world's top 20. Considering the course, it was no coincidence that quality players rose on Friday. The seven past champions at Kingsmill have won a combined 28 majors, all claiming at least one.

"It's hard, especially today with the wind," Lewis said of the River Course. "It became comical how many times we hit 6-iron into a green today. We hit 4, 5, 6-irons and then you've got to hit your wedges close on the par 5s, so it demands every shot in the bag. That's why the list of past champions is so good."

Among a group of six players within three strokes of the lead are reigning LPGA champion Shanshan Feng (69-69 - 138), 2011 U.S. Women's Open champion So Yeon Ryu (67-71 - 138), Ai Miyazato (68-70 - 138), and 52-year-old Juli Inkster (69-69 - 138), a seven-time major champion.

Bucking the trend of experienced players emerging at Kingsmill is former South Carolina All-American Katie Burnett (68-70 - 138), who continued her strong play after making the tournament via sponsor's exemption. This is only the second LPGA event for the 23-year-old.

With the wind expected to continue to blow over the weekend, Petterson expects the cream to continue to rise.

"This is probably the best course we play all year," Pettersen said. "I think you can see on past champions, it's great ball-strikers, good golfers. I'm glad I was able to put my name on that list on this course."

Notes: Among the name players who missed the cut were 2004 Kingsmill champion Se Ri Pak (72-74 - 146), Michelle Wie (73-73 -- 146), Morgan Pressel (74-76 - 150), and Christina Kim (76-80 - 156) ... Jutanugarn's 18-year-old sister, Mariya Jutanugarn (73-70 - 143), played the final nine holes in 4-under and made the cut.

Kerr takes 2-shot lead to Sunday at Kingsmill

Kerr takes 2-shot lead to Sunday at Kingsmill










Benjamin Standig, The Sports Xchange May 4, 2013 7:00 PMThe SportsXchange



JAMES CITY, Va. -- Cristie Kerr shot a 5-under 66 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA Tour's Kingsmill Championship on the River Course at Kingsmill Resort.

Fellow American Stacy Lewis carded a 68 and is for second with Suzann Pettersen of Norway. Angela Stanford is alone in fourth at 7-under.

Kerr started the day two strokes behind first and second round leader Ariya Jutanugarn, a 17-year-old from Thailand, who entered on a sponsor's exemption.

The 35-year-old Kerr rolled in six birdies, three on each side and all coming after a bogey on the second hole.

Kerr, who has 15 career victories, is the only two-time champion in the eight-year history of the tournament, winning at the River Course in 2005 and 2009. Pettersen captured the title in 2007.

Jutanugarn, the current leader on the Ladies European Tour money list, finished her round at 73 after carding bogeys on three of her first four holes and totaling six in all.

Ilhee Lee of South Korea had a wild round that ended with the South Korean's third straight 69, leaving her four shots back in fifth place.

Inbee Park of South Korea, ranked No. 1 in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings and a three-time winner this season, shot 69 and is tied for eighth.

Overcast morning conditions gave way to sunny skies once the final groups hit the course, but chilly temperatures remained throughout, as did swirling winds.

Jutanugarn shot a first-round 64 and dominated the front nine on Thursday and Friday, but opened Saturday with bogeys on the first two holes. Another followed on the fourth.

With Jutanugarm dropping back, several players took turns atop the leaderboard.

Lee initially emerged from the pack with a 30-foot eagle putt on the seventh hole and started the back nine with a two-stroke lead.

Four holes later, the lead vanished thanks to back-to-back double bogeys on 12 and 13, although Lee recorded birdies on the next two holes.

Kerr, who last won at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational last November, led almost exclusively from there.

Briefly joined by Pettersen at 8-under, Kerr jumped ahead for good with a birdie on 13. She extended her lead with a birdie on the par-5 15th.

Lewis, the top-ranked American and No. 2 in the world, moved back into the contending mix with birdies on 15 and 16.

The only player without a bogey during the third round, Lizette Salas turned in the day's low score with a 65, jumping from 40th place overnight to a tie for sixth with Jutanugarn.

NOTES: Top-ranked Inbee Park, coming off a victory in the North Texas Shootout, bounced back from a 1-over-par 72 in the second round. She carded a bogey on the first hole, but played the last 17 holes in a bogey-free 3-under, but starts the final round six strokes behind Cristie Kerr, who was No. 1 in the world three times during the 2010 season. ... Playing in her first event as a member of the LPGA tour, 23-year-old American Katie Burnett has posted rounds of 68-70-71 and is tied for eighth with Park.