Kia Classic Thursday and Friday: Tseng Weathers Pak Attack, Leads by 2

My apologies to the ladies of the LPGA for not blogging their exploits lately.  In fact, I still haven't even watched last Sunday's showdown between Ya Ni Tseng, Ai Miyazato, and Na Yeon Choi.  It's not like I don't know that Ya Ni stormed back on the back 9 to win, although I did try to avoid finding out the results for as long as possible in hopes I'd find time to watch the RR Donnelley's final round....

That resilience Tseng has been showing lately--her ability to slip into "world #1 gear" just when she needs it, even if she was otherwise playing pretty average golf; her ability to hold off top-notch challengers in clutch situations, no matter how well they're playing--was on display the 1st 2 days of the Kia Classic, as well.  So what if Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak dropped a 66 on the field yesterday morning, opening with 6 birdies in her 1st 8 holes?  So what if Tseng stumbled late on the back with a couple of bogeys in a row to fall one behind Pak?  All Ya Ni did was play her last 10 holes bogey-free and make 3 birdies along the way to open up a 2-shot lead on Pak and a 4-shot lead on Ji-Yai Shin, Caroline Hedwall, Alison Walshe (who matched Pak's 66 yesterday!), and Jodi Ewart....

Me, I'm glad to see Ai Miyazato in the top 10, but I'd love to see her go low this weekend and challenge Tseng for the 3rd time this year.  It's nice to see Lexi Thompson hanging in there at E on a course I didn't think would suit her game at all.  But what the heck is up with Stacy Lewis (+1), Na Yeon Choi (+2), Cristie Kerr (+2), Paula Creamer (+3), Morgan Pressel (+3), Anna Nordqvist (+4), In-Kyung Kim (+5), and So Yeon Ryu (+5)?  I would have thought they'd be eating up La Costa!  At least they made the cut, unlike my hometown hero Moira Dunn and a bunch of golfers who I had hoped were starting to struggle through some hard times on the course, from Jee Young Lee to Jane Park to Tiffany Joh to Michelle Wie to Pernilla Lindberg to Mariajo Uribe.  And what happened to Mika Miyazato and Jennifer Song this week?  Ouch!

Can't guarantee how soon I'll find the time to post again!  Sorry!

[Update 1 (7:04 am):  Here's a great long post that recaps the late-2011 and early-2012 heartbreaks for Korean golfers on the LET and LPGA from Happy Fan!]

[Update 2 (7:06 am):  How cool is it that Hannah Yun is paired with Na Yeon Choi today?!]