Miyazato leads LPGA event by one shot

Miyazato leads LPGA event by one shot










The Sports Xchange June 21, 2013 9:10 PMThe SportsXchange



ROGERS, Ark. -- Mika Miyazato shot an opening-round 6-under-par 65 on Friday to grab the lead after one day at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship at Pinnacle Country Club.

Miyazato, a runner-up at the 2012 NW Arkansas Championship and a third-place finisher at the tournament in 2010, continued her strong play at Pinnacle Country Club. After an even-par start through six holes, she birdied six of her final 12 holes to move to the top of the leaderboard, where she holds a one-stroke advantage over So Yeon Ryu and Angela Stanford.

Miyazato's birdie run began at the par-5 seventh hole and continued with another birdie at the par-4 ninth to finish the front nine at 2-under 34. Four more birdies on the back nine, at holes 10, 11, 13 and 15, moved Miyazato -- the No. 15-ranked player in the world -- to first place after an morning tee time Friday.

A group of 10 players sit just two strokes behind at 4-under par. Suzann Pettersen, ranked No. 3 in the world and coming off a tie for third at the Wegmans LPGA Championship on June 6-9, shot 67 with five birdies and one bogey. Also among the players at 4-under after round one are tour rookie Chie Arimura, Mina Harigae, Christel Boeljon, Danielle Kang, Sarah Kemp, Lisa McCloskey, Beatriz Recari and Azahara Monoz, who tied for second at last year's NW Arkansas Championship along with Miyazato.

Local fan favorite and world No. 2-ranked player Stacy Lewis, who played in college at nearby University of Arkansas, is in the group at 4-under as well after a strong finish with birdies at holes 15, 16 and 18 to close out her first round.

Lewis easily attracted the largest gallery of the day, as the former Arkansas All-American was on the receiving end of several "Woo Pig Sooie" Razorback calls during her round.

A total of 52 golfers in the field of 144 finished under par Friday, with the majority of the top scores coming from the morning tee times. Among the afternoon pairings, Stanford scored the best round at 66.

Ryu, No. 5 in the Rolex World Rankings, used a hot putter to stay within one shot of the lead. Despite hitting just 11 of 18 greens in regulation, the 22-year old South Korean took advantage of just 25 total putts on the day.

Mika Miyazato leads LPGA event by one shot

Mika Miyazato leads LPGA event by one shot










The Sports Xchange June 21, 2013 9:20 PMThe SportsXchange



ROGERS, Ark. -- Mika Miyazato is in familiar territory after one round at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

Miyazato, a runner-up at the 2012 NW Arkansas Championship, shot an opening-round 6-under-par 65 on Friday to take a one stroke lead at Pinnacle Country Club.

"I hit some pretty good shots," Miyazato said. "I was working hard on my short putts, like three feet, six feet and nine feet yesterday because I changed putters in the Bahamas last week. I used the mallet type and now I use the pin type putter and it's a real difference.

"So I practiced a lot (Thursday) and had so much confidence today."

Miyazato has one career victory, that coming at last year's Safeway Classic. Two months earlier, she had another great opportunity for her first professional win right here at Pinnacle Country Club.

In a battle with eventual champion Ai Miyazato - no relation to Mika - a missed 10-foot birdie putt on her final hole of the tournament prevented Mika from forcing a playoff at last year's NW Arkansas Championship.

"I was disappointed last year," Mika Miyazato said. "But I am a very good friends with Ai. She's like an older sister.

It was a good experience and Ai won and I finished second."

Miyazato's strong play at Pinnacle Country Club, which began with a third-place finish here in 2010, continued Friday with birdies on six of her last 12 holes. Her birdie run began at the par-5 seventh hole and continued with another birdie at the par-4 ninth to finish the front nine at 2-under 34.

Four more birdies on the back nine, at holes 10, 11, 13 and 15, moved Miyazato -- the No. 15-ranked player in the world -- to a one-stroke lead over So Yeon Ryu and Angela Stanford, a runner-up at the NW Arkansas Championship in 2009.

A crowded group of 10 players sit just two strokes behind at 4-under par. Suzann Pettersen, ranked No. 3 in the world and coming off a tie for third at the Wegmans LPGA Championship on June 6-9, shot 67 with five birdies and one bogey. Also among the players at 4-under after round one are tour rookie Chie Arimura, Mina Harigae, Christel Boeljon, Sarah Kemp, Lisa McCloskey, Beatriz Recari and Azahara Monoz, who tied for second at last year's NW Arkansas Championship with Mika Miyazato.

Local fan favorite and world No. 2-ranked player Stacy Lewis, who played in college at nearby University of Arkansas, is in the group at 4-under as well. Lewis, who drew her hometown "Woo Pig Sooie" Arkansas calls on the final two holes, used a strong finish to get near the top of the leaderboard, with birdies at holes 15, 16 and 18 to close out her first round.

"I got off to a little bit of a slow start," Lewis said. "Just wasn't really making any putts on the front and then kind of relaxed there on the back and made a few putts. I played solid. I was feeling good. Even when I was even par I was feeling good about my game.

"I'm just glad to get a few there so I can go out tomorrow and make a few more."

A total of 52 golfers in the field of 144 players finished under par Friday, with the majority of the top scores coming from the morning tee times. Among the afternoon pairings, Stanford posted the best score with a 66.

"I think I'm two shots off the lead, which the lead was shot this morning," Lewis said. "So I think it plays a little bit easier in the morning and that's what I'm looking forward to."

Ryu, No. 5 in the Rolex World Rankings, used a hot putter to stay within one shot of the lead. Despite hitting just 11 of 18 greens in regulation, the 22-year old South Korean took advantage of just 25 total putts on the day.

Stanford, who lost to Jiyai Shin in a playoff at the 2009 NW Arkansas Championship, was 3-under through seven holes. After a bogey at the par-4 12th, birdies followed at Nos. 14, 16 and 18 to get back to 5-under.

"Today seemed to be fairly consistent ball-striking wise," Stanford said. "Then putting was pretty good, too. I just seemed to have a lot of opportunities, so those are good days."

Friday Notebook: Past champions give lessons

Friday Notebook: Past champions give lessons











PGA.COM June 22, 2013 6:55 PM


By Randy Stutzman, The PGA of America

SUNRIVER, Ore. -- Defending PGA Professional National Champion Matt Dobyns of Glen Head, N.Y., and 2011 National Champion David Hutsell of Baltimore were featured guests Friday morning at Lost Tracks Golf Club in Bend, Ore., host of the traditional Youth Golf Clinic. The clinic attracted nearly 40 youngsters ranging in age from 6 and 14, representing the Redmond and Terrebonne chapters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Past PGA President Brian Whitcomb, owner/course designer of Lost Tracks, and his son, PGA General Manager Ryan Whitcomb, served as hosts. Local Boys & Girls Club directors Brandi McClennen of Redmond and Leo Gonzalez of Terrebonne said that the majority of the visiting youngsters were experiencing golf for the first time.

"It's always special to have a premier golf event in our immediate area, with a third PGA Professional National Championship conducted just miles away. To have this great group of youngsters with us to learn the game is doubly nice," said Whitcomb, who served from 2007-08 as the 35th president of The PGA of America.

Hutsell, PGA director of instruction at The Elkridge Club in Baltimore, demonstrated the fundamentals of a player's set-up before attempting a golf swing. The long-hitting Dobyns, PGA head professional at Fresh Meadow Country Club in Lake Success, N.Y., gave a lesson with one of his favorite clubs, the driver.

Dobyns' lesson was interrupted by 5-year-old Brody Whitcomb, grandson of Brian.

"If you hit it too far, you will get in trouble," said Brody, who referred to the protected Deschutes National Forest bordering Lost Tracks Golf Club's practice range along Holes 1, 2 and 3.

"You're right," said Dobyns with a big grin. "I'm hoping this week that I don't hit it sideways."

MORE FAMILY FUN: On Saturday, Riverbend Park in Bend will be transformed into a Get Golf Ready Family Fun Zone from noon to 4:00 p.m. This free family golf festival open to the public will include group lessons, games and other fun activities to encourage area families to play the game.

A TWOSOME OF DISTINCTION: The 2013 PGA Professional National Championship features 312 players who have distinguished themselves at various levels of competition in their career. One twosome in this week's field marks their respective debuts with particularly impressive résumés.

Jim McGovern of Oradell, N.J., and Sam Randolph of Fort Worth Texas, each have won on the PGA Tour.


McGovern captured the 1993 Shell Houston Open, his lone victory during a 22-year PGA Tour career. The 48-year-old made 200 PGA Tour cuts, tied for fifth at the 1994 Masters, and earned nearly $3 million over his career.

But a disappointing 2008 season convinced McGovern it was time to consider making a career change. After playing in a handful of Tour events through 2010, McGovern interviewed successfully for the PGA head professional position at White Beeches Golf and Country Club, just a few miles from his Bergen County home.

McGovern is now in his third season at White Beeches. He earned a National Championship berth by finishing third in the 2012 New Jersey PGA Championship.

Randolph, 49, is the PGA teaching professional at Hawks Creek Golf Club in Westworth Village, Texas, during the summer, and at Plantation Golf Club in Indio, Calif., during the winter. He earned a National Championship berth by finishing seventh in the North Texas PGA Section Championship.

Randolph enjoyed a sterling amateur career, winning the 1985 U.S. Amateur, and was low amateur in the 1985 and 1986 Masters Tournaments. He turned professional in 1986, and won the 1987 Bank of Boston Classic in his rookie season on the PGA Tour. He continued his career on the former Nationwide Tour, posting two runner-up performances.

BOTH YOUNG AND OLD: Clayton Wonnell is the youngest member of the 312-player field. Wonnell, 24, a PGA assistant professional at Dallas (Texas) National Golf Club, is playing in his first PGA Professional National Championship. Wonnell won the 2012 Southern Texas PGA Section Championship and competed in the 2013 Shell Houston Open.

Jim White, a PGA Master Professional and director of golf at The West Nine and Learning Center at Firethorn in Lincoln, Neb., is the oldest player in this year's field. The 63-year-old has competed in a total of 26 PGA Professional National Championships and seven PGA Championships.

White's best finish in the PGA Professional National Championship was second place in 1985, when the Championship was contested at Mission Hills Country Club in La Quinta, Calif.

SEE YOU ON TV: The 46th PGA Professional National Championship presented by Club Car, Mercedes-Benz and OMEGA, set to begin Sunday at Sunriver (Ore.) Resort, will air live on Golf Channel for each of the four rounds. See broadcast schedule below (All Times Eastern):

Opening Round: Sunday, June 23: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Second Round: Monday, June 24: 3:30-6:00 p.m. Third Round: Tuesday, June 25: 4:00-7:00 p.m. Final Round: Wednesday, June 26: 4:00-7:00 p.m.

BY THE NUMBERS: 2 - Reigning PGA Players of the Year. They are: Rod Perry and Sonny Skinner 3 - Total visits the Championship has made to Sunriver Resort. The Championship was also hosted at Sunriver in 2001 and 2007; and Crosswater was the site of the 1998 Western PGA Professional Championship 4 -National Championship participants that made the cut in the 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid. They are: Jeff Coston, Sonny Skinner, Bob Gaus and Don Berry 7 - Metropolitan PGA Section members that have won the National Championship. The Carolinas and Michigan PGA Sections are next with 4 National Championships each 9 - 2011 PGA Cup team members that are in the 2013 field 11 - National Championship participants that competed in the 2013 Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid 13 - Past Champions in the 2013 field 45 - States represented 88 - Championship rookies