Ariya Jutanugarn fired the round of the tournament thus far, an 8-under 64, to take the lead heading into the weekend at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open.
“I feel pretty good today because I hit my tee shot pretty good, and I was calm on every shot, so I feel good,” Jutanugarn said.
Jutanugarn is coming off the Rio Olympics where she had to withdraw due to a knee injury.
“I know I hurt my knee, so that’s why I didn’t play very good on the third round,” Jutanugarn said of the withdraw in Rio. “And after the withdraw I just felt okay. I just had to rest and take care of my knee. So after that I feel like just play golf, and it didn’t feel like anything changed. I feel like I’m okay. I wanted to see how I’m feeling. But after that, like on Monday, it didn’t hurt that much and today it’s getting a lot better.”
Chasing Jutanugarn down will be In Gee Chun and Stephanie Meadow who sit three shots back at 9-under. Defending champion Lydia Ko is four back at 8-under par.
“I played pretty solid the last few days,” Ko said. “Hoped for a few more putts to drop, but it’s just really tough out there with some pins being tucked and on little slopes. Three-footers, four or five, they’re not easy tap-ins or easy birdies or pars. So when it’s that kind of scenario you really need to take your time and be patient out there. But there’s still a lot of golf to be played. I feel like I’m playing solid, and it’s a good position going into the weekend.”
74 players made the cut of 1-under 143. The third round will start off split tees at 8:38 a.m. with the leaders teeing off at 10:50 a.m.
ALENA SHARP AND MAUDE-AIMEE LEBLANC SHARE LOW CANADIAN HONORS AFTER 36-HOLES
Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee LeBlanc are tied for low Canadian honors at 6-under, six shots back of Ariya Jutanugarn’s lead.
“It’s always good to see the Canadian flag on the leaderboard no matter where we are, but definitely this week,” Sharp said. “I know in the past we haven’t done well as a group, the Canadians, so it’s nice to see halfway through we’ve got some people up there. Hopefully, we can continue it on the weekend.”
Sharp backed up an opening round 68 with a 70 on Friday, while LeBlanc has carded a pair of 69s.
The last Canadian to win the CP Women’s Open was Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973.
HOME COOKING
Calgary’s own Jaclyn Lee (-5) put together rounds of 69 and 70 and will be the only amateur to compete on the weekend at Priddis Greens. The 19-year-old member of Canada’s National Team earned a sponsor exemption into the Canadian Open and is making the most of her first career LPGA event.
“Yesterday I was nervous for the first couple of holes,” Lee told the media after her second round. “It took me a few holes just to get settled in. But now I kind of just realized it is just another golf tournament just with another field. I think that this experience is definitely going to help me in the future playing college tournaments as well and just taking everything I’ve learned this week.”
Lee is preparing to return to Columbus, Ohio for her sophomore season at Ohio State University. As a freshman for the Buckeyes, she competed in 12 of the team’s 13 tournaments and recorded two top-10 finishes.
CP HAS HEART
CP Birdies for Heart has returned for 2016. This week at Priddis, CP will donate $5,000 for every birdie made by a player on the 18th hole during tournament play. Through the second round of play, CP Birdies for Heart has raised $340,000 thanks to 68 birdies.
The Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation is the official charity beneficiary of the 2016 CP Women’s Open. All funds raised through the tournament will support pediatric cardiac care and research at the Hospital.
QUOTES OF THE DAY
“I mean, these greens make the US Open look like nothing, so...They’re super fast, super firm, and it’s all about putting out here.” -Maude-Aimee LeBlanc on the greens at Priddis
“I didn’t have my best game today and I still shot 69. So I think everyone’s going to have a bad nine holes throughout a four-round stretch, and I’ll just keep going tomorrow and hopefully get the ball striking back and make some birdies and have fun. This is what we work for. This is our environment to be out there on the leaderboard. So it’s going to be fun. I’m going to enjoy it.” -Stephanie Meadow on her play over the past two days
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