With the U.S. Open as the main focus of the week less attention is being paid to this week’s Wegman’s Rochester LPGA event. That’s too bad because the stellar round that Becky Morgan played today was worthy of praise and adulation.
Two-time runner-up Morgan may have finished with a 3-stroke lead over Lorena Ochoa but it was the exciting way in which she did it that deserves a second look. With strings of birdies from the tenth through the thirteenth and then again from the third through the seventh holes Morgan charged past the competition with ease even though the weather was unagreeably rainy and chillier than expected for the middle of June.
Morgan has not had a victory nor a top-ten finish at all this year, resides at 108th on the ADT Official Money List, has a paltry $27,000 in earnings for the season and missed the cut in five out of the ten tournaments she has entered but feels that her game is finally coming around.
Although Becky hasn’t had a terrific year to date with her best finish (T-27) coming at the season-opening SBS Open, she is optimistic about this tournament. “Just one shot at a time and stay patient, which I guess I haven’t been this year,” the 30-year-old Morgan said. “It’s the best I’ve hit all year. I’ve been struggling to find anything.”
Both she and 23-year old Lorena Ochoa started their rounds on the back nine. Ochoa finished only three strokes behind the leader and felt comfortable enough to triple-birdie her way into the clubhouse. Ochoa was happy that the rain slowed the greens. “The greens are not as fast as they usually are, and you have to take advantage of that,” Ochoa said. Mexico’s golden girl grabbed solo second and has been a runner-up or top-five finisher several times this year but hasn’t been able to take the first-place spot on Sunday.
Swedish import Maria Hjorth finished one-stroke behind Ochoa. U.S. Women’s Open champion (2005) Hilary Lunke came in alone in fourth place. Christina Kim is again in the mix this week. Perhaps she’ll stop letting distractions get to her as she did in the Sybase Classic, allowing Paula Creamer to grab the crystal trophy.
Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer and Rosie Jones are all in a logjam at 1-under par but within reach of the lead. It will be interesting to see which of the three move up on the leaderboard and who just can’t keep up at this pre-U.S. Open tournament tune-up.
Crisite Kerr dropped out of the tournament due to a knee injury. Defending champion Kim Saiki (73) double-bogeyed at the 14th but finished just one-stroke off the lead. Going twelve years without a win must be wreaking havoc with her mental game. Since there are only four women who have won this tournament more than once, Saiki will have to put her mental and physical prowess to the test over the next several days to gain ground over that imposing first round 64 carded by Morgan.
Pos Player Today R1 1 Becky Morgan -8 64 2 Lorena Ochoa -5 67 3 Maria Hjorth -4 68 4 Hilary Lunke -3 69 T5 Se Ri Pak -2 70 T5 Rachel Hetherington -2 70 T5 Laura Diaz -2 70 T5 Christina Kim -2 70 T9 Stephanie Loudon -1 71 T9 Rosie Jones -1 71 T9 Emilee Klein -1 71 T9 Laura Davies -1 71 T9 Natalie Gulbis -1 71 T9 Dorothy Delasin -1 71 T9 Paula Creamer -1 71 T9 Gloria Park -1 71 T9 Angie Rizzo -1 71
The Golf Channel will cover the Wegman’s Rochester Tournament for the next three days. Friday’s coverage is from 3:00-5:30 pm ET. Tournament coverage for Saturday and Sunday has been changed to 2:00-4:30 pm ET.
Photo Credit: © AP.