Carin Koch Controls Round Two in Mexico

Carin Koch started the second round just two strokes off the lead from Natalie Gulbis. By the end of the first hole, they were tied for the lead. Koch executed a perfect sand wedge from 97 yards for an eagle on the par-4, 376-yard hole. “It was going straight in the hole and it just bounced once and went in” said the 34-year-old Swede. Although Carin birdied the 5th, she missed a short par putt on the following hole. On number 8, Koch used her sand wedge once again to place a birdie putt within 3 feet of the hole. Even though she birdied again on 16, Koch gave it back on the 18th, missing a 4-four foot par putt.

Carin’s last win came at the 2001 Corning Classic, but with the confidence of a great round today, it definitely helps her chances, and, as Carin chirped, “It was a really fun way to start”.

Wendy Ward, winner of last week’s Takefuji Classic, opened her round with a birdie and then rallied with five additional birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine. After a four year dry spell prior to the Takefuji, Ward finished with a 4-under 69 and stands poised for another challenging weekend. “I was able to start knocking down some pins, kind of like last week,” she said. “It was a matter of staying patient with your shots. Taking your chances when they were more realistic.”

Natalie Gulbis also claimed an eagle today at the 390-yard 4th hole, but lost her cool when, at the par-3 14th, she carded a 6 to finish with a disappointing 75. Tied for third with Gulbis is Maria Hjorth who, although carding 5 birdies, also bogeyed the 10th, 11th and 16th, double-bogeying the 15th.

Lorena Ochoa enjoyed a relaxing round today, shooting 71, but more importantly, playing even par through 36 holes. Her friends and family followed her throughout the day, even though temperatures reached a sweltering 91 degrees.

Charlotta Sorenstam(72) climbed up the leaderboard today, finishing in a tie for 5th with 4 other players. Charlotta had an up-and-down round today with 5 birdies and 5 bogeys finally finishing at even par.

Paula Creamer had a solo birdie today and compounded her problems with 4 bogeys and one double bogey on the 11th hole. She lost her cool today and shot a 5-over par 77.

But, the shot of the day goes to Jean Bartholemew, who dropped the third hole-in-one this year on the LPGA tour. Although she missed the cut today, she’ll still have the memory of her ace on the 106-yard 6th hole using her trusty gap wedge.

Pos  Player                     Today    Tot    R1    R2
1     Carin Koch                  -3      -7    68    69
2     Wendy Ward                  -3      -4    71    69
T3    Natalie Gulbis              +3      -3    66    75    
T3    Maria Hjorth                 E      -3    69    72
T5    Charlotta Sorenstam          E      -1    71    72
T5    Sung Ah Yim                 -2      -1    73    70
T5    Giulia Sergas               +2      -1    69    74
T5    Audra Burks                 +3      -1    68    75
T5    Leta Lindley                -1      -1    72    71
T10   Kelli Kuehne                -1       E    73    71
T10   Stacy Prammanasudh           E       E    72    72
T10   Yu Ping Lin                 -5       E    77    67
T10   Lorena Ochoa                -1       E    73    71
T10   Catriona Matthew            -1       E    73    71
T10   Jill McGill                  E       E    72    72
T10   Kris Tschetter              -2       E    74    70                                        
T10   Dawn Coe-Jones              +1       E    71    73

Photo Credit: © AP.