Dryburgh takes the positives after ‘five-hole blip’ in California

Gemma Dryburgh said she will take “lots of positives” from her latest LPGA Tour outing after bouncing back from a “five-hole blip” in California.

The Scottish number one finished in a tie for 38th place behind Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul in the JTBC Classic presented by Barbasol at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad.

Dryburgh opened with a five-under 67 to sit just two shots off the lead, before quickly moving to sevenunder in the second circuit.

However, after a run of five straight bogeys, she then had to settle for a 76 before jumping back up the leaderboard again with a 68 on Saturday.

In the final round, the Aberdonian was two-under early on, before signing off with a level-par 72 to finish alongside AIG Women’s Open champion Anna Nordqvist.

“Today didn't go quite as low as I wanted, but lots of positives,” said Dryburgh, who picked up just under $8,000 for her week’s work. “I feel like my game is in really good shape. Hopefully I can just continue that momentum.”

The 28-year-old has not been able to secure a spot in this week’s opening major of the season, the newly-branded Chevron Championship, meaning her next outing will be in Hawaii for the LOTTE Championship.

“It was disappointing obviously having that five-hole blip in the second round, but I just kind of took confidence from that first round and just went for it, so it was good,” she said.

Asked to expand on those positives, she said: “I think just hitting it well; hitting it a bit longer as well.

“I was playing the course a lot different to how I used to play it, so it was nice to see that distance kind of pay off. I feel like I'm putting well as well, so just lots of good things.”

Thitikul, last year’s runaway LET Race to Costa Del Sol winner, came from six shots behind in the final round to land her maiden LPGA Tour triumph.

After a closing round of 64 that contained just 24 putts, she beat Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen, the overnight leader, at the second hole in a play-off.