Ariya opens three-shot lead in Canada
Thai star recovers from Rio Games injury, moves three strokes ahead of Chun and Meadow
PRIDDIS: Ariya Jutanugarn had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and shot an eight-under-par 64 on Friday to take a three-stroke lead in the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.
A week after withdrawing from the Rio Olympics because of a left knee injury, the 20-year-old Thai star played 20 holes on Friday at Priddis Greens.
She bogeyed the par-five 18th for a 68 in the completion of the delayed first round, then made eight birdies in her bogey-free second round.
“I just had to rest and take care of my knee,” Ariya said. “After that, I feel like just play golf. It didn’t feel like anything changed.”
South Korea’s Chun In-Gee and Northern Ireland’s Stephanie Meadow were tied for second. Chun closed birdie-eagle for a 67. Meadow had a 69. The former Alabama player had a seven-hole stretch without a par, making three straight birdies, three straight bogeys and a par.
“It’s a rough little stretch there in the middle, and I just kind of had to pull myself together.” Meadow said. “I definitely saved myself on the back nine with my short game. It wasn’t pretty, but I got it done, and that’s what golf’s about.”
Three-time champion Lydia Ko was four strokes back, and Canadian star Brooke Henderson was eight behind.
“I played pretty solid the last few days,” Ko said. “Hoped for a few more putts to drop, but it’s just really tough out there with some pins being tucked and on little slopes. There’s still a lot of golf to be played.”
In the event before the Olympics, Ariya won the Women’s British Open for her fourth victory of the year. She won three straight tournaments in May, and shares the tour victory lead with the top-ranked Ko with four.
The second-ranked Ariya began the second round with birdies on Nos.1 and 2, ran off four straight on No.17-2 and added birdies on Nos.4 and 8 to get to 12 under. Hammering 2-iron and 3-wood off the tee, Ariya hit all 14 fairways in the second round.
“I don’t think it’s like so good, my game,” Ariya said about the treelined course. “Because to me it’s a little bit narrow and I can’t hit my driver. But right now I feel more confident because I can hit my iron on the fairway and my three-wood on the fairway.”
She considered skipping the tournament to get another week off.
“But I feel like I’m OK,” Ariya said. “I wanted to see how I’m feeling. But after like Monday, it didn’t hurt that much. Today, it’s getting a lot better.”
Ko shot a 69, making four straight birdies in the middle of the round.
She has won the event three of the last four years, the first two as an amateur. The 19-year-old New Zealander won in 2012 at Vancouver Golf Club at 15 years, four months to become the LPGA Tour’s youngest winner and fifth amateur champion. She successfully defended her title in 2013, winning by five strokes in Edmonton. Last year back at Vancouver as a pro, she beat Stacy Lewis in a play-off.
South Korea’s Kim Sei-Young (67), Kim Hyo-Joo (67), Hur Mi-Jung (69) and Chella Choi (71) matched Ko at eight under.
Henderson dropped a stroke in the completion of a first-round 72 and had a double bogey on the par-3 eighth — her 17th — in a secondround 68. The 18-year-old beat Ko in a play-off in June in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship for her first major title, and successfully defended her Cambia Portland Classic title in early July.
“I had massive crowds today and it was so much fun to play in front of them,” Henderson said. “I kind of felt their energy, and I got it to minus six at one point today... Unfortunately, I had a couple of mistakes coming in.”