The winds didn’t seem to have much of an effect on 32-year old swede Sophie Gustafson. Sophie turned in a 66 today with a spectacular round of eight birdies and only two bogeys on 9 and 11. She made back-to-back birdies on the 5th and 6th holes, again at the 12th and 13th holes and a triple threat with birdies on 15, 16 and 17. Gustafson putted only 24 times today and drove the ball over 300 yards. She is third in driving average on the LPGA tour this season. “You’ve got to be aggressive here,” said Gustafson.
Corning Classic champion (1988) Sherri Turner played golf in the latter part of the day escaping the morning winds. She matched Gustafson with an equally thrilling round carding an eagle at the second hole then adding five birdies as the day progressed. The 49-year old Turner only posted one bogey today to finish with her first round in the 60’s for the season.
Danielle Amiee won’t be teeing it up at an LPGA tournament any time soon. The 29-year old Futures Tour player withdrew in the early morning hours citing a bad back. “I’m trying to loosen up a bit; the muscles are a little on the tight side” said Amiee on Wednesday at the practice range.
Coach Dean Reinmuth concurred with Amiee stating, “Danielle has the type of swing that produces a lot of torque in her back. “Partially because of this, over the years she has developed problems in the area”. Since this was Amiee’s second and final exemption into the LPGA, her big break turned into a “bad break”.
Annika Sorenstam (69) is just three shots behind the leaders with four other golfers but don’t expect Sorenstam to remain in that logjam after today’s exciting events. Even with heavy winds swirling around her, Annika wowed the fans with two eagles today. Her first eagle came at the 2nd but she wound up bogeying the 5th and 7th to even up her score after the first nine holes. Annika made bogeys on the 10th and 13th but turned her game around on the 14th with her second eagle of the day. After that eagle there just was no stopping Sorenstam. Birdies were flying everywhere as Annika dunked shots on 15, 16 and 17.
Hall-of-Famer Rosie Jones (71) opened with a bogey but evened out her front-nine with a birdie on the 5th. Rosie didn’t have another birdie until the 14th. She gave back the shot on the very next hole but rebounded with a birdie on the 17th to shoot a 1-under par today.
Natalie Gulbis (72) played to even par speckling her round with five birdies and the same number of bogeys. Her finishing birdie on the 18th should give her positive reinforcement when starting her round tomorrow.
Tessa Teachman is the youngest player to ever qualify at the Corning Classic. The 15-year old shot a 1-over 73 today. If she can maintain her pace, she might just make the cut!
On the opposing side, a hole-in-one was made today at the par-3 15th by 45-year old Caryn Wilson. Caryn started playing golf at the ripe old age of 31.
Pos Player Today R1 T1 Sophie Gustafon -6 66 T1 Sherri Turner -6 66 T3 Annika Sorenstam -3 69 T3 Catherine Cartwright -3 69 T3 Jimin Kang -3 69 T3 Jamie Hullett -3 69 T3 Meena Lee -3 69 T3 Laurie Rinker -3 69 T9 Joanne Mills -2 70 T9 Jen Hanna -2 70 T9 Kate Golden -2 70 T9 Sung Ah Yim -2 70 T9 Ji Yeon Lee -2 70 T9 Karine Icher -2 70 T9 Moira Dunn -2 70
Catch the action on The Golf Channel: May 27-29th 4-6:30 p.m.(ET)(tape delay)