Clanton, Suwannapura lead LPGA team tourney
MIDLAND, Mich. – Cydney Clanton and Jasmine Suwannapura shot a 7under 63 in alternate-shot play Friday to open a five-stroke lead in the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational, the LPGA Tour’s first-year team event.
Clanton and Suwannapura birdied five of the last seven holes on the front nine and played the last five holes in 2 under, making three birdies and a bogey.
“I think because we pretty chill, like ‘You hit a bad shot, like OK, I’ll fix it, don’t worry,’ ” Suwannapura said. “So everybody kind of like relaxing the game today, so the result pretty good.”
They had a 16-under 194 total at Midland Country Club, with a best-ball round left Saturday.
“Each hole’s an opportunity,” Clanton said. “How many opportunities can we give ourselves. One of those things where as many fairways and greens as you can hit and if the putts go in, great.”
Suwannapura, from Thailand, won the Marathon Classic last year for her lone LPGA Tour title. Clanton is winless on the tour. They had an alternate-shot 67 on Wednesday and shot a best-ball 64 on Thursday.
PGA Tour
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. – Jim Herman shot his second straight 7-under 65 to take the second-round lead in the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship.
President Donald Trump’s regular golf partner while working as an assistant professional at Trump National Bedminster in New Jersey, Herman had a one-stroke lead over Bill Haas at rainsoftened Keene Trace.
Encouraged by Trump to pursue a playing career, Herman won the 2016 Shell Houston Open for his lone tour title.
Haas followed his opening 65 with a 66.
He made a 45-foot eagle putt on the par-5 eighth, his 17th hole.
David Toms was two strokes back at 12 under after a 64.