Post by verdantgarden on Apr 21, 2015 3:49:46 GMT
If you watched any of the tournament, you know the weather story was the tradewinds. Of the three Ko'Olina tournaments I have spectated, this was by far the windiest. And the driest. Not one drop fell during my whole stay at the resort. The mountains did their job of keeping the heavy clouds away that drenched the rest of Oahu.
It has been my habit during the first two rounds to check out players that our relatively new to the tour. For the first round, I couldn't resist the grouping of Sei Young Kim, Inbee Park (who would end up seeing a lot of each other) and Brittany Lincicome. What an amazing talent Kim is, right? I knew she could hit the ball far but to witness her go toe-to-toe with one of the longest drivers in the game, and sometimes out-driving Brittany, was a thing to behold.
The second round, I gave a look at Minjee Lee and Jennifer Song who both held their own in the breeze. The third was Mina Harigae who wields a short temper. Even so, I felt for her when she hit her second shot in the water on 18 eventually double bogeying the hole and just miss the cut.
In my opinion, Friday was the windiest day. I was really holding on to my hat. Jenny Shin kept her cool and shot a nice 2-under round. Wish I could say that about Na Yeon Choi who descended into moroseness as her round got worse. I was impressed with amateur So Young Lee. She has an athletic build and good skills. Look forward to her progressing up the ranks.
There was no way I could refuse watching the final group of SY Kim, Inbee and I.K. Sei Young came back to her partners after bogeying 2 and doubling 3. On 3, she drove right, right into a gully. She was barely able to advance her ball on the second shot. Her third shot wasn't much better and she still hadn't reached the green.
At hole 11, Sei Young birdied while Inbee bogeyed and it was a three-way tie at -11. I would argue a four-way tie as the wind was at 11 as well. The ladies battled that back nine. As you know, Inbee had big opportunities on the par fives. The missed birdie putt on 14 was especially tough. She hit most of the hole. I saw that a few times where the ball just seemed to shimmy back out.
Inky blinked first on 17 setting the table for the legend of Sei Young Kim versus Inbee Park on the final hole. Final? I didn't see that Sei Young had shot her tee shot like a bullet down the whole fairway and into the drink (neither did she). When I saw Sei Young chip in, I thought it was a win in spite of Inbee's marvelous lag putt. But believe you me I had a good vantage to see that hop, skip and jump of a winner. Proud to see it make the no. 1 Shot of the Day on Sportscenter.
Random thoughts:
The tournament was "presented" by Hershey's but other than signs, there was no sign of Hershey products. I know you can't set up a tent full of chocolate bars in the hot, tropical sun but I still felt cheated.
Most sign-bearers have no clue why they are there. Many love to orient them facing towards the green while walking down the fairway. How can a spectator see the scores? On exception to prove the rule was one young man who paraded his sign around the bowl of the 18th green. Kudos young fellow!
With llhee Lee and Mariajo Uribe missing the cut, no player has played all 36 rounds conducted this season.
It has been my habit during the first two rounds to check out players that our relatively new to the tour. For the first round, I couldn't resist the grouping of Sei Young Kim, Inbee Park (who would end up seeing a lot of each other) and Brittany Lincicome. What an amazing talent Kim is, right? I knew she could hit the ball far but to witness her go toe-to-toe with one of the longest drivers in the game, and sometimes out-driving Brittany, was a thing to behold.
The second round, I gave a look at Minjee Lee and Jennifer Song who both held their own in the breeze. The third was Mina Harigae who wields a short temper. Even so, I felt for her when she hit her second shot in the water on 18 eventually double bogeying the hole and just miss the cut.
In my opinion, Friday was the windiest day. I was really holding on to my hat. Jenny Shin kept her cool and shot a nice 2-under round. Wish I could say that about Na Yeon Choi who descended into moroseness as her round got worse. I was impressed with amateur So Young Lee. She has an athletic build and good skills. Look forward to her progressing up the ranks.
There was no way I could refuse watching the final group of SY Kim, Inbee and I.K. Sei Young came back to her partners after bogeying 2 and doubling 3. On 3, she drove right, right into a gully. She was barely able to advance her ball on the second shot. Her third shot wasn't much better and she still hadn't reached the green.
At hole 11, Sei Young birdied while Inbee bogeyed and it was a three-way tie at -11. I would argue a four-way tie as the wind was at 11 as well. The ladies battled that back nine. As you know, Inbee had big opportunities on the par fives. The missed birdie putt on 14 was especially tough. She hit most of the hole. I saw that a few times where the ball just seemed to shimmy back out.
Inky blinked first on 17 setting the table for the legend of Sei Young Kim versus Inbee Park on the final hole. Final? I didn't see that Sei Young had shot her tee shot like a bullet down the whole fairway and into the drink (neither did she). When I saw Sei Young chip in, I thought it was a win in spite of Inbee's marvelous lag putt. But believe you me I had a good vantage to see that hop, skip and jump of a winner. Proud to see it make the no. 1 Shot of the Day on Sportscenter.
Random thoughts:
The tournament was "presented" by Hershey's but other than signs, there was no sign of Hershey products. I know you can't set up a tent full of chocolate bars in the hot, tropical sun but I still felt cheated.
Most sign-bearers have no clue why they are there. Many love to orient them facing towards the green while walking down the fairway. How can a spectator see the scores? On exception to prove the rule was one young man who paraded his sign around the bowl of the 18th green. Kudos young fellow!
With llhee Lee and Mariajo Uribe missing the cut, no player has played all 36 rounds conducted this season.
