Juli Inkster (65) has been playing at the Shoprite Classic every year since it began and was the tournament’s first winner in 1986. Both she and Annika are two-time winners of the event. The two ladies entered the clubhouse admirably after a rain-soaked round with Sorenstam just two strokes behind Hall-of-Fame member Inkster.
Even though Inkster used five gloves and several towels by the end of her round, her score proved her to be a veteran. A dripping Inkster had this to say to the media, “Believe me, I didn’t want to be out there. But I figure if I have to be out there, I might as well make it good.”
She sure made the Bay Course look easy. Although Juli Inkster hasn’t won a tournament in two years, she showed her competitors that she could still score. With six birdies, two chip-ins and an eagle at the 16th, Juli only stumbled twice with two bogeys to finish her round ahead of Sorenstam.
Not yet over her cold from last week’s Corning Classic, Annika started with sand trap trouble at the second hole and a two-putt for bogey. She regained that stroke with a birdie on the next hole but bogeyed again at the sixth.
Even the sniffles can’t keep the world’s top female golfer down. Sorenstam rebounded with a bogey-free back nine to stay within close range of the leader. A 35-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole turned the tide for Annika. “Sometimes you just need a little putt like that (on No. 10) to kind of get you going, especially on a day like today,” Sorenstam said. Three birdies on the back nine and a five foot putt for eagle at the par-5 16th made up for her early slow start.
Mi Hyun Kim birdied early at the first then bogeyed 2, 4 and 7 but dropped in another birdie in at the 5th. Although Kim began her back-nine with bogeys on the 10th and 11th, she regained her composure and birdied back-to-back on 12 and 13. Kim then birdied her way in on the final four holes to put her in solo possession of third place.
Jeong Jang birdied at the third but stumbled at the fourth with a devastating double-bogey. On holes 5-13, Jeong held steady with pars then birdied at the 14th and again at 18th finishing with a sigh of relief.
Last week’s winner at the Corning Classic, Jimin Jang (71), leads a contingency of thirteen golfers at even par. Erica Blasberg (72) stands with a long stretch of golfers tied for 19th position and Jennifer Rosales shot a 73 today.
Paula Creamer (74) is tied for 50th place with some of this year’s top performers including Cristie Kerr, and Christina Kim in another logjam deep within the leaderboard.
Way back in 70th position lie Australian Karrie Webb (75), Wendy Ward and Stacy Prammanasudh who have all won this year on tour.
Pos Player Today R1 1 Juli Inkster -6 65 2 Annika Sorenstam -4 67 3 Mi Hyun Kim -2 69 4 Jeong Jang -1 70 T5 Jimin Jang E 71 T5 Marilyn Lovander E 71 T5 Kris Tschetter E 71 T5 Nancy Harvey E 71 T5 Beth Bader E 71 T5 Laura Davies E 71 T5 Se Ri Pak E 71 T5 Heather Bowie E 71 T5 Silvia Cavalleri E 71 T5 Pat Hurst E 71 T5 Natalie Gulbis E 71 T5 Shi Hyun Ahn E 71 T5 Carin Koch E 71
Catch the LPGA on ESPN2 this weekend: Jun 4th 2:00-4:00 p.m. and Jun 5th 3:00-5:00 p.m.(ET). Check your local listings as ESPN2 rescheduled first round action.
Photo Credit: © SI.com.