LPGA Marathon Classic. I.K. Kim Wins With A 63.

I.K. Kim, South Korea, wins the LPGA Marathon Classic, with a 63 in the last round  at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

I.K. Kim / getty

A weather delay could not stop I.K. from carding a final bogey free round -8 under par 63, to win the Marathon Classic, with a -21 under par total;

“I think today the pin positions were a little bit comfortable for me.”

“I’ve been hitting little draws this week, and when the pin is tucked on the left side, I was having a hard time, but I think just knowing what I’m doing kind of helped me to plan out the round.”

Leggy (6ft tall) Lexi Thompson, USA,  was in second place, she returned a last round score of -5 under 66, to finish with -17 under par;

“I put up a good score. I had a little bit of a rough stretch there, but overall I’m very happy with the way I played.”

 “I was hitting a cut around the golf course, and that’s usually not what I do. But I managed to put up some good scores, which I’m very happy about.”

“You just have to focus on doing your best and controlling your attitude and your game.”

Tied in third place at -15 under par were, Peiyun Chien, Taipei, -3 under 68 today, and Gerina Pillar, USA, who is still searching for her first LPGA Tour win, she also carded a final round -3 under 68.

Peiyun was proud to play so well;

“Very proud because a lot of Taiwanese;  a lot of Taiwan fans really care about this tournament, and I played well.”

Gerina also felt she had played really well, just not a win;

“I feel like my game, I played really well.”

“To start off  eight under, that’s huge. But I didn’t come away with the win, but it doesn’t mean I didn’t have a winning performance.” 

Defending Champion Lydia Ko, from New Zealand, had another poor tournament, finishing T20 at -9 under par, a long way from being good, 12 shots actually.

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The Open. Stunning Spieth Digs Deep To Win.

Jordan Spieth, USA, digs deep to win The Open, with a stunning finish to secure the victory on the links of  Royal Birkdale Golf Club, in England.

Jordan & the Claret Jug./ getty

Jordan struggled today carding three bogey’s in his first four holes, a birdie followed on the next hole, but two more bogeys saw him sinking down. He recovered with some good putting to win the 146th The Open with three birdies and an Eagle in his last five holes, giving him a last round total of -1 under par 69, and a three shot winning margin at -12 under ;

“It’s incredible, this is one of the most sought after trophies in the world and the most sought after in our sport and to be able to have my name on it and already see that is a dream come true.”

“My last goal now is to try and complete a career grand slam.”

“Somehow it came from an errant drive, a crazy drop and a bogey to get me going.”

“After that one went in I stuffed a six iron at the next hole and that putt went in. I was uncomfortable on the greens and all of a sudden I couldn’t miss.”

“Tremendous mental strength to be able to come back and finish that way with a couple of good breaks and Matt got a couple of bad breaks as well.”

“I don’t know how I shot one under today.”

Matt Kuchar secured an American 1-2, also with a final round -1 under par 69, he was three shots clear of the third place at -9 under for the tournament.

Grabbing third place was Haotong Li, from China, returning the low round of the day, -7 under par 63, for a -6 under total.

Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain,-2 under 68 today, and Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland, with -3 under 67 shared fourth place at -5 under par.

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LPGA Marathon Classic. Nelly Korda Has 54 Hole Lead.

Rookie Nelly Korda, USA, has the 54  hole Marathon Classic lead, taking a two shot advantage into the final round at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Nelly Korda / getty

Nelly moved to the top of the Marathon Classic leaderboard with a third round -5 under par 66, giving her a tournament total of -15 under par, finishing her day with a birdie at the last hole;

“When you end on a birdie, you’re just really excited to play the next day and get it doing, so I’m definitely excited.”

“My mentality hasn’t changed. It’s the same as the first two days. I just try to take it shot by shot really.”

 I.K. Kim is second, two shots back at -13 under par, a -3 under 68 third round good enough to claim that position on her own;

“I feel really good about playing this golf course. I’ve always liked this golf course.” 

Six ladies are the tied in third place with -12 under totals, they are; Sandra Changkija, USA, -6 under 65 today, Aditi Ashok, India, -3 under 68, Lexi Thompson, USA, -2 under 69,  Peiyun Chien, Taipei -2 under 69, Sung Hyun Park, South Korea, -4 under, and 36-hole leader Gerina Piller,  -3 under 68.

Gerina, who is aiming for her first LPGA Tour win said she had played great, especially with the putter; 

“I felt like I played great.”

“You know, I missed some birdie opportunities, but I made some longer putts today.”

“Ball-striking feels great. Putting feels great. It was just a matter of staying patient and just letting the results come.”

“It’s tough to follow up an eight under. The conditions were great out there. The course is in great shape.”

“I got off to a slow start, just made some pars, but I was giving myself chances, and that’s kind of all you can ask for.”

Lexi knows she needs to go low tomorrow if she wants to win here;

“It’s going to take a low one tomorrow to beat her, and there’s a lot of great players around her.”

“It’s going to take a lot of birdies.”

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The Open. Jordan Stands Firm at the Top. Amazing Grace Shoots 62.

Jordan Spieth stands firm at the top of The Open leaderboard at Royal Birkdale, and will take a three shot lead into the final round tomorrow, despite amazing Branden Grace making history with a 62.

Jordan / getty

Jordan shot a third round -5 under 65 to post -11 under par at the top of The Open leaderboard, giving him a three shot advantage going into the final round tomorrow;

“It was pretty stress-free.”

“On a Saturday, with the lead in a major, that’s about as good as I can ask for right there.”

Matt Kuchar keeps his second place, his -4 under 66 today, leaves three shots adrift of the leader with his -8 under total. But it means America has kept control of the 146th The Open.

Brooks Koepka, USA, -2 under 68 today, and Austin Connelly, Canada, -4 under 66, are both in third place at -5 under par.

Amazing Branden Grace, South Africa, -8 under 62, and Hideki Matsuyama, Japan, -4 under 66, share fifth place.

On the last green Branden  was 45 feet and two putts away from shooting the lowest round in major championship history, but did not know it;

“I didn’t know what was going on on eighteen, I promise you.”

“I had no idea that 62 was obviously the lowest ever.”

“Just trying to shoot a number to try to get myself back in there and have a decent finish for the week. Obviously now the mindset changed a bit.”

Branden / getty

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LPGA Marathon Classic. Gerina Still Leads.

Gerina Pillar still leads the LPGA Marathon Classic after two rounds at  Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Gerina / getty

Gerina, from the USA, who is seeking her first LPGA Tour title carded -3 under 68 today to maintain her top position on the Marathon Classic leaderboard with a -11 under par total. Great day with the putter, and patience  was key today;

“I felt like I played great. I missed some birdie opportunities, but I made some longer putts today.”

“Ball striking feels great. Putting feels great. It was just a matter of staying patient and just letting the results come.”

“It’s only Friday, so I wouldn’t put the cart before the horse, but to get that first win I think would be really special, no matter where it is.”

“I’m just going to try to focus on the process, and the result will take care of itself.”

Three ladies are tied  second place at -10 under par, Lexi Thompson, USA, -6 under 65 today, In-Kyung Kim, South Korea, -4 under 67, and Peiyun Chien, from Taipei, with a second round -3 under 68.

Aditi Ashok, from India, is in fifth position on her own at -9 under par, a second round score of -3 under keeping her in touch with the leaders;

 “This week I wasn’t actually supposed to play, so when I came here I just took it kind of easy and I practiced not as much as I would have usually practiced.”

“I’m sure I’m in a good spot, but yeah, I will keep watching because I think on this course, the afternoon wave gets it a little easier than the morning sometimes, so maybe there will be better scores.”

Defending Champion Lydia Ko made the cut on the number, -1 under, making birdie on her last hole to get in. I noticed that Lydia is wearing ring on her engagement finger, not sure if that has any significance, especially with regard to her poor golfing performances recently.

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The Open. Jordan Spieth Supreme.

Jordan Spieth supreme in The Open, pulling away from the field at Royal Birkdale during a wet second round afternoon session.

Jordan

Jordan, USA,  shot -1 under 69, to extend his lead in The Open to two shots at -6 under par. An Eagle at 15 was lucky;

 “I mis-hit it, and I was very fortunate to scoot that last bunker.”

“It was definitely a good break. It wasn’t a bad play. We knew we’d stolen one.”

Keeping the American stranglehold on this competition is Matt Kuchar, in second place, his second round of +1 over par leaving him at -4 under for the tournament.

Sharing third place, at -3 under are Ian Poulter, England, even par 70 today, and Brooks Koepka, USA, with +2 over par 72 second round.

Poults is pumped up;

“I qualified for The Open. I’m loving it. I really am. “

“This is a massive bonus for me to be in this position. I haven’t played in a major for a little while, and I can’t wait.”

“I’m excited. I’m pumped up, I mean I’m ready to go out there toe-to-toe with anyone this weekend.”

Rory McIlroy played himself back into the competition, -2 under 68 today, with an improved performance with the putter giving him a -1 under total and T 7;

Rory / getty

“That was right up there.”

“It’s really tough out there. I was lucky enough to get off to that great start but the conditions actually got a little bit worse on the back nine and it’s hard.”

“I think this south east wind that we’re playing today is the toughest wind you get on this golf course.”

“To be in after two days and be under par for this championship, after the way I started, I’m ecstatic with that.”

 “I’ve been really, really happy with how I’ve putted the last couple of days and that’s one of the most difficult things today.”

Notables missing the cut, at +5 over par, are Phil Mickelson +10. Padraig Harrington  +6, Justin Thomas +7, Patrick Reed +8, Louis Oosthuizen and Billy Horschel, both with +12 over par.

Phil suffered only his fourth ever cut;

“I missed it with flair.”

“I thought I had a good game plan. I thought my game was sharp. But obviously it wasn’t.”

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LPGA Marathon Classic. Gerina Grabs Lead.

Gerina Pillar, grabs the Marathon Classic lead, shooting 63, in round one at Highland Meadows Golf Club.

Gerina Pillar / getty

Gerina, USA,  carded -8 under par 63, which included one bogey, to lead the Marathon Classic by one shot. She said it was a good day with the putter as the putts were just rolling in;

“I birdied my first three holes and any time you can start off three in a row, it’s pretty good.”

“I just kept hitting it close and had some close birdie putts here and there, and I did make a bogey, but I just told myself like I’m doing great things and just keep doing what I’m doing.” 

“I feel like any time you shoot 8-under is pretty good.”

“I got off to a good start and got the putts rolling.”

“To be honest, my ball-striking didn’t feel as great coming into this weekend, and the week after a major it’s always tough just because you’re so exhausted mentally, and I just went out there and really trusted what I had and just brought it together, and my game feels really good right now.”

Two ladies are tied in second position at -7 under par, Peiyun Chien, Taipei, and Sung Hyun Park, South Korea, they are just that one shot back.

Sung Hyun, bogey free today, spoke about her Major success;

“My feeling today was so awesome, it was a good start after the major championship winning, and first of all, I need to focus more on the Marathon Classic and want to keep my major happiness behind me from now on.”

“My fairway shots wasn’t that concrete all the time, but I think I was pretty much satisfied with my other shots.”

“In Korea, I did win a lot, but here, especially for the major, I’m very happy for that.”

“But currently I just want to focus on Marathon Classic, so it’s not a big deal for me to put that behind me.”

Peiyun is apparently always changing her swing, and today it worked well;

“I did well today because I changed my playing. I’m always thinking the swing on the golf course, so today I just played freely.”

“I tried to find some feeling and play, and it’s worked. I’m very happy.”

Happy to report that there were plenty of mini skirts out on the course today, including the leggy Lexi, who is currently at -4 under par.

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