Kia Classic Preview & Pairings

[Tontj5]

After one of the most thrilling finishes that resulted in Stacy Lewis taking over the top spot in the official Rolex Rankings, it is already time to turn the page and look at this week's tournament.

The tour moves to the state of California for the playing of the Kia Classic. Most players will not only be trying to win the first place prize, but will be trying to get their game in shape for the first major championship which is next on the schedule.

This will be tournament #5 of 28 to be played this year.

Here are the key details:

TONY'S LPGA REPORT: Kia Classic Preview & Pairings

[Tontj5]

The pairings are now available.

Some of the more interesting pairings are:
Stacy Lewis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr
Natalie Gulbis, Michelle Wie, Ha-Neul Kim
Yani Tseng, Sandra Gal, Hee Kyung Seo
Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson, Gerina Piller

For complete pairings:
http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...-pairings.html

[topspin4hand]

Just saw Yani's press release. She should make enough to have someone w/ her on the road who double-checks where she's at so this type of stuff doesn't happen. Smh.

[joekelly]

Update:  Yani is out.  Overslept in the morning, missed the Pro-Am tee time, called in to WD.  But unknown to me is whether the WD was mandatory according to rules, or she lost face by missing the ProAm and slunk away. Or she needed a reason to WD early and practice up for next week's major.

[Mr22putt]

Originally Posted by topspin4hand

Just saw Yani's press release. She should make enough to have someone w/ her on the road who double-checks where she's at so this type of stuff doesn't happen. Smh.

Yani does have a road manager ( I spoke with her at the 2012 CWO)....but Yani is an adult....I don`t believe she should be responsible to wake Yani up or tell her to brush her teeth, etc, etc.

Thing happens.....this is your job and ya gotta show up to work on time.

Furyk had the same incident last fall and Rory slept in at the Ryder Cup.

[Mr22putt]

Originally Posted by joekelly

Update:  Yani is out.  Overslept in the morning, missed the Pro-Am tee time, called in to WD.  But unknown to me is whether the WD was mandatory according to rules, or she lost face by missing the ProAm and slunk away. Or she needed a reason to WD early and practice up for next week's major.

No way is Yani the type of pro to WD to leave early.

It`s all about saving face in Asian culture.

I`m sure she has personally apologized to the Korean Kia execs and others and will likely some how make it up to them and hopefully will be at the course Thurs-Fri to meet up with fans.

[Tontj5]

Here is the full story:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/03/yani-tseng-withdrawn-from-kia-classic.html

[Wansteadimp]

Originally Posted by Mr22putt

Yani does have a road manager ( I spoke with her at the 2012 CWO)....but Yani is an adult....I don`t believe she should be responsible to wake Yani up or tell her to brush her teeth, etc, etc.

Thing happens.....this is your job and ya gotta show up to work on time.

Furyk had the same incident last fall and Rory slept in at the Ryder Cup.

Rory didn't oversleep, he had a brain fade with time zones.

[Tontj5]

Here are the leaders after round 1:

1 Jane Park -6 F
2 Caroline Hedwall -5 F
2 Karrie Webb -5 F
4 Jessica Korda -4 F
4 Giulia Sergas -4 F
6 Inbee Park -3 F
6 Se Ri Pak -3 F
6 Paula Creamer -3 F
6 Austin Ernst -3 F
6 Jodi Ewart Shadoff -3 F
6 Lizette Salas -3 F
6 Haeji Kang -3 F
6 Beatriz Recari -3 F
6 Mo Martin -3 F
6 Amanda Blumenherst -3 F

[Tontj5]

Here are the leaders after 2 rounds:

1 Beatriz Recari -8 F
2 Paula Creamer -7 F
2 Karrie Webb -7 F
4 In-Kyung Kim -6 F
4 Cristie Kerr -6 F
4 Inbee Park -6 F
4 Haeji Kang -6 F
4 Jane Park -6 F
9 Lizette Salas -5 F
9 Caroline Hedwall -5 F
11 Jeong Jang -4 F
11 So Yeon Ryu -4 F
11 Stacy Lewis -4 F

[boogielicious]

Lewis seems a bit off compared to last week.  I am pulling for Jane Park to win for the first time.  The course is stunning!  There is still 4" of snow on the ground here in Boston, so it looks like paradise to me.

[Tontj5]

Here are the leaders after 3 rounds:

1 Beatriz Recari -11 F
2 Karrie Webb -9 F
3 In-Kyung Kim -8 F
3 Paula Creamer -8 F
5 Stacy Lewis -7 F
5 Lizette Salas -7 F
5 Cristie Kerr -7 F
8 Inbee Park -6 F
8 Jane Park -6 F
10 Na Yeon Choi -5 F
10 Suzann Pettersen -5 F
10 Azahara Munoz -5 F
10 Mo Martin -5 F

[Tontj5]

Final Results:

1 x-Beatriz Recari -9 F
2 In-Kyung Kim -9 F
3 Pornanong Phatlum -8 F
3 Mo Martin -8 F
3 Cristie Kerr -8 F
6 Jane Park -7 F
6 Lizette Salas -7 F
6 Karrie Webb -7 F
9 Giulia Sergas -6 F
9 Haeji Kang -6 F
9 Azahara Munoz -6 F
9 Stacy Lewis -6 F

[Rick Martin]

Actually watched a little of the tournament on GC Saturday and Sunday. Interesting golf course. Good to see Webb back in the mix. Recari is easy on the eyes. Hard to believe little I.K. Kim drove the 280 yd green. Sorry to see her miss another short one that might have won it for her.  Creamer, Lewis disappointing.

[iacas]

Beatriz was all OVER the leaderboard!

[boogielicious]

Both Recari and Kim were very nervous on the first playoff hole.  The course was harder than it looked on TV according to the announcers.

[Clambake]

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

Actually watched a little of the tournament on GC Saturday and Sunday. Interesting golf course.

I watched it too, both because some of the players are easy on the eyes and I'm also familiar with the course so I was interested to see how it presented on TV.   It is an interesting course, and having played it a number of times it is one of my favorites in this area.   What isn't seen on TV is how hilly the course is - there are very few flat holes, and one is either going up hills or down them.      I was kind of surprised when Aviara was selected, though, as I think it is a very unfriendly course for spectators.   There aren't many good natural viewing areas, the holes are well separated from each other and have significant distances from green to the next tee box.    I suspect 90% of the fans had to hang out around 18 and the rest were the intrepid souls who trekked up into the hills.

Originally Posted by Rick Martin

Hard to believe little I.K. Kim drove the 280 yd green.

That hole plays downhill all the way, with a significant drop on about the last 1/3, and the ladies tees were set up so far forward that it looked pretty easy for them to carry to the point the ball would easily run.  The wind also comes over the ridge just west of that hole and swirls down the canyon, making it also a downwind tee shot.   It probably only took about 230-235 carry to get it onto the steeper downhill slope and run it up to the green.    Good shots to be so on line, but not quite as impressive distance-wise as it seemed.

Originally Posted by boogielicious

Both Recari and Kim were very nervous on the first playoff hole.  The course was harder than it looked on TV according to the announcers.

What makes it harder than it looks on TV is all the uphill, downhill, and side hill lies.     But I was really surprised at all the 3 putts coming in, especially from the players in contention.   The greens there aren't super easy from a normal public course perspective, but it is a resort course with manageable contouring, and even when set up to run fast they aren't that tough.

[MSchott]

Watched the end of regulation and the first playoff hole. How hard it that hole? It's only 382 yards for the women. They really struggled to make par.

Good for Beatriz. She seems very nice and is definitely easy on the eyes. I was rooting for her.