Friday, July 2, 2010

Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Friday: NYC, TheChristinaKim, Sharpie, and Inbee Achieve Separation

Na Yeon Choi (-11) is the only player in the field at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic to get to double digits under par through 36 holes. She takes a 25-hole bogey-free streak and a 2-shot lead on Christina Kim, Inbee Park, and Alena Sharp into the weekend, but another 6 players lurk 5 shots behind her. At the other end of the leaderboard, Morgan Pressel sank a clutch birdie putt on her final hole of the day to make the cut on the number, but Laura Davies, Paula Creamer, Grace Park, Mi Hyun Kim, Seon Hwa Lee, Jane Park, Mika Miyazato, Mariajo Uribe, and Mallory Blackwelder were among those not so fortunate.

Between Hound Dog's 2nd-round overview and LPGA.com's notes and interviews, there's not much I can add right now, especially because it's the girl's bedtime. More later!

[Update 1 (7/3/10, 10:04 am): A few notes on players not mentioned in the above reports. Stacy Prammanasudh hasn't made a bogey in her 1st 2 rounds, while fellow American Kristy McPherson finished birdie-eagle for her 2nd-straight 68. We haven't seen much from either this season, compared to their talents and past records, so it would be great if they could turn it up a notch over the weekend. It's also nice to see In-Kyung Kim following up on her good play at the LPGA Championship; her 6-birdie 66 yesterday brings her within 5 of the lead. Compatriot and Saturday playing partner Song-Hee Kim matched Kim's 66 and like Choi has a 25-hole bogey-free streak going. Having missed only 4 greens in 36 holes, she's a great candidate to play great over the weekend. If I were in Toledo, I'd be following them today.

One shot back, I'd love to see Pernilla Lindberg keep breaking 70 and hang with the likes of Ji-Yai Shin, Hee-Won Han, and M.J. Hur; she's the slowest one of my pre-season picks for best among the rookie class of 2010 to get her LPGA season going. She's paired with Chella Choi, who impressed me so much at the driving range on Sunday morning at the LPGA Championship. And of course I'd love to see Meaghan Francella keep up her good play from Locust Hill over the weekend.

Even further down the leaderboard, I'm very curious to see how Vicky Hurst and Mina Harigae, the top players on the Futures Tour in 2008 and 2009, respectively, do when paired together. But then there are so many players who could go low in their range. Will any one of them go so low she actually gives herself a chance to move into contention on Sunday?]

[Update 2 (10:06 am): For more on the ROY race, check out Ruthless Golf!]

[Update 3 (7/6/10, 3:05 am): Here's Christina Kim on her Friday.]

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