Planet Golf — 21 March 2015 by Candace Oehler
JTBC Founders Cup Round Two

Laura Davies and Se Ri Pak

Notes and quotes from Round Two, which finished Saturday morning. Round three scheduled to begin at 11:40. The cut is -2.

Notables who missed the cut: Christina Kim, Julie Inkster, Laura Davies, Brittany Lang, and UW grad Sadena Parks.

Wildfire is a true desert course, with no rough to speak of. But it’s well protected by bunkers and desert waste areas where errant balls go to die in cacti, scrub, and nasty bushes.

Overheard outside the fairway bunker on the first hole, after Brittany Lincicome hit out to 3 feet from the pin, “Good shot, babe.” “Thanks, love.” Support from fiancé Dewald Gouws, South African long drive champion.

Sight to see – Veteran Julie Inkster, 54-year old veteran, walking up the fairway chatting and laughing with playing partner, 22-year old Jessica Korda – past and future.

All the golfers personalize their yardage books. Michelle Wie’s, for example, has a cover that reads NERD NATION.

The LPGA media guide is a good read, and include such nuggets as:

The one person Alison Walshe would like to be interviewed by – Chelsea Handler….Jennifer Song was nearly expelled from middle school after she lit a plastic cup on fire….Italian Giuliani Sergas spent time at a Colorado ranch, where she learned how to work as a cowboy….Dewi Schreefel’s favorite store is REI….Morgan Pressel has bee glutton-free for three years….Brooke Pancake, who endorses Waffle House, has a dog named Bogey. Now why can’t MLB media guides be as interesting?

Quotes:

2014 champion Karrie Webb on being paired the first two rounds with Stacy Lewis: “I’ve played every tournament this year with Stacy, so we’re quite familiar with each other. We have similar games as far as distances and stuff.”

Stacy Lewis on budding rivalry with 17-year old Lydia Ko: “I think it’s really great for us. It’s making us better. It’s fun. ”

“I think a battle, it gives people something to talk about, and it gives people something to follow.”

Kim Kaufman, 36- hole leader in the house at -11, on what’s been working for her: “The greens are soft so you can really go at some pins here. The key for me has been, a couple of shots have been tap in birdies so that helps.” Kaufman’s best finish was a T4 last year at the JTBC North Texas LPGA Shootout.

Yani Tseng continues to struggle to regain her championship form. The 5-time Major winner missed the cut, finishing at +8, T130.

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About Author

Candace Oehler’s deep dive into sports media began several decades ago when she won a trip from Seattle to Mariners spring training in Arizona. Noting that non-English-speaking Latino ball players received little, if any, media coverage, she fluently/en español became a pioneer in Spanish sports media, and eventually became known affectionately throughout the Latino MLB community as “La Veterana.” Candace has written for team publications and MLB.com; hosted her own radio show on several Spanish-language stations; served as producer/reporter/engineer for the Mariners’ inaugural season of Spanish radio broadcasts; and has been a reporter for MLB Network Radio the past 10 years. She was invited to Venezuela by future Hall-of-Fame shortstop Omar Vizquel to cover rebuilding efforts and accomplishments of his charitable foundation following the devastating 1999 mudslides; worked in Puerto Rico for former Major Leaguers Joey Cora and Carlos Baerga managing fundraising events; and was the only female in the raucous locker room when the hometown favorite Licey Tigers won the 2004 Caribbean World Series in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Candace was introduced to the game of golf in 1992 by members of Seattle’s historic Fir State Golf Club, who had approached her to manage their (then) little fundraising tournament hosted by a shy, gangly 15-year old Tiger Woods. Candace co-managed the annual event for nearly 20 years, working with hosts that included Ken Griffey, Sr., Birdie Griffey, Mike Cameron, Nate McMillan, Warren Moon, and Dale Ellis. She became secretary of the club and the Fir State Junior Golf Foundation, and got totally, completely hooked on golf, learning to play on a set of Redbirds given to her by the club (apparently they considered her mother’s Patty Bergs a bit antiquated). She has since traded up to another set of Redbirds and a much more user-friendly golf environment in Arizona. And, once a prolonged stint on the DL is over, she can’t wait to get back on the course and continue lowering her current 21-handicap to ….?

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