Meadow and Maguire hit the birdie trail in windy Hawaii
Stephanie Meadow
Stephanie Meadow plans to continue being aggressive after blasting eight birdies in a five-under 67 that left her just three shots behind American Brittany Altomare and the Philippines’ Yuka Saso in the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii.
The Jordanstown star birdied the first, third, sixth and ninth to turn in 32, then picked up further shots at the 10th and 13th to get to six-under before making two birdies and three bogeys in her last five holes.
“Yeah, it was good,” said Meadow, who finished the day tied for seventh as Leona Maguire’s bogey-free 68 left her tied for 14th. “It definitely got windy. It was a little difficult to judge.
“Obviously I had a great front nine and then a little bit birdie-bogey on the back there at the end, which is a little annoying, but still played really solid.”
As for her plans for day two, when she will be among the early starters, she has no plans to play any differently but just keep the foot down and make birdies.
“Not a whole a lot,” she said. “I mean, just kind of stay aggressive and just play each hole at a time, as corny as it sounds. The winning score here is going to be super low I think if it stays like this. So, you know, hopefully I can take advantage of a little less wind in the morning.”
Close to breaking back into the world’s top 100 — she’s 108th after finished tied 19th in the ANA Inspiration — Meadow feels good about her chances at Kapolei Golf Club on Oahu.
“I love coming here,” she said. “We all always stay in the same condos is it's right by the beach and it's very relaxing. Coming to a new golf course is a little extra preparation than before but not a whole lot. What you see is what you get kind of here, which is nice on the preparation side. But it's hard to be in a bad mood here. Let's be honest.”
Maguire tied for 28th in the ANA Inspiration and she continued her excellent start to the season in Hawaii, carding birdies at the 13th, 14th and 17th before adding another birdie at the seventh in an excellent ball-striking round.
Leona Maguire driving at the 15th tee during the Flogas sponsored Irish Scratch Series at Seapoint. Picture by Pat Cashman
ALTOMARE AND SASO LEAD LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP THROUGH 18 HOLES
After round one of the LOTTE Championship, American Brittany Altomare and the Philippines’ Yuka Saso rose to the challenge of Kapolei Golf Club, as both are tied for the lead at -8. Saso, who has earned two wins on the JLPGA Tour, is playing in just her sixth-career LPGA Tour event. The 19-year-old went bogey-free, carding eight birdies, including four on her final eight holes. Saso gave credit to her driving as keys to her successful first round.
“I think I really hit a good drives today and made good up and downs. So, yeah, like I said earlier, like I think I got lucky today,” said Saso, who hit 10 of 14 fairways and 17 greens in regulation. “Back nine the wind did get stronger than this morning. I think I just have to be careful with my drives, keep it in the fairway as much as possible, and trust the process.”
Saso’s career-best finish on Tour is T13, earned at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open. She last played in the season’s first major championship at the ANA Inspiration and finished T50, where Saso said she learned what to work on in her game. Although she’s enjoying herself in Hawaii, Saso said she was grateful to get through 18 holes while adjusting to weather she isn’t as keen to.
“To be honest, okay, I don't really like the wind, but I'm working on it. Like I'm working on my ball to be able to play good in windy conditions,” said Saso. “So I'm happy I was able to play good, but I wasn't really expecting anything. Like I said, I don't really like windy conditions.”
Altomare made two birdies and a bogey on her front-nine holes but turned on the power once she made the turn. From Nos. 1-7, Altomare made seven consecutive birdies, the highest birdie streak she’s recorded since making five straight in the first round of the 2019 Meijer LPGA Classic. She said her caddie’s guidance help build momentum after a slower start by her standards.
“I was just putting really well. You know, on the front nine I think I struggled a little bit. Like I just think something was a little off or at least I felt that way,” said Altomare. “I brought Charlie (my caddie) in to help me read my putts on 1 and 2 and it just kind of gave me some confidence, like, yeah, you're reading it right. Just kind of freed me up. Just putt and just make it.”
Both players are co-leading after 18 holes for the first time in their careers on Tour. Lurking one-stroke behind the leaders is two-time major champion So Yeon Ryu and Tour winners Ally Ewing and Nelly Korda. Korda was the lowest player of the afternoon wave with her 65, her lowest 18-hole score since the final round of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions this past January.
“I did pretty well. I actually hit all my greens on the front nine and just missed three on the back. Chipped in on the last hole, which was nice,” said Korda. “But that's what you need to do in windy conditions, you need to hit as many fairways and greens as possible and try to give yourself some opportunities, which I did today.”
Stacy Lewis sits in solo sixth after a 6-under 66. Lewis said she’s been feeling more confident in her putting as of late, which helped propel her to a bogey-free first round.
“I've got some confidence back in the putter more than anything. Just knowing you don't have to hit it to five feet every time to make birdie. I can make some 15- to 20-footers when I need to and get up and down when I need to. The short game has been there,” said Lewis. “So it's really just confidence with the putter. I've been hitting it good for a while now. It's just everything is starting to come together.”
Seven players round out the top of the leaderboard in a tie for seventh, including 15-time winner Lydia Ko, who is -15 in her last 36 holes, dating back to the final round of the ANA Inspiration. Defending champion Brooke Henderson sits in a tie for 14th after a 4-under 68.
LUCK AND SKILL ON THE SIDE OF BRITTANY ALTOMARE AT THE LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP
After starting the day off No. 10 at Kapolei Golf Club, Brittany Altomare made the turn 2-under par after two birdies and a bogey. Looking to turn up the heat in sunny Hawaii, Altomare turned to her caddie Charlie Ryan for guidance on her putts on Nos. 1 and 2, and suddenly, the momentum kicked in. By the time she finished the day, the Massachusetts native recorded a string of seven-consecutive birdies and carded an 8-under 64, tying Yuka Saso for the first-round lead.
“I try to stay one shot at a time, but towards the end I kind of realized (the streak), and then I chipped in on 7 and just started laughing. I'm just like, ‘just one of those days’, which was fun. Hasn't happened in a while, so I was excited,” said Altomare, whose highest finish this season is T23 at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala.
This is the first time she can remember carding seven consecutive birdies, “even in practice,” said the 30-year-old. Her 64 ties her career-best 18 holes, last recorded in the second round at the 2016 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, where she finished T13. The streak ties the Tour’s second-best number for consecutive birdies, last done by Isi Gabsa at the 2019 Portland Classic. Jeongeun Lee and Nicole Broch Larsen are the last two players to record seven-straight birdies in the same round, both achieving the feat at the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
“This week like I just really like the greens here. They're smooth. I think when you putt where you want to, like it's going to go there. Like there is no -- it's not bumping around or anything,” said Altomare. “I think if you're putting well you can make a lot of putts out here.”
Altomare hopes to continue building on her successful first round by honing in on what’s been working for her. Just stay steady and consistent. My putter obviously feels really good. My coach and I have been working a lot on some things in my driver, and I'm finally starting to feel comfortable with it,” said Altomare. “So I think if I can just stay consistent off the tee and just kind of keep working on what we been working on.”
BRIANNA DO WITH FAMILIAR FACE ON THE BAG IN PARADISE
After a first-round 68, Brianna Do was proud of the effort she gave at Kapolei Golf Club. In her fifth appearance at the LOTTE Championship since 2014, Do described what helped her through a satisfying day one.
“I was driving the ball really well,” said Do, who only missed one fairway all day. “Once I got it in the fairway I had a good caddie to help me with my approach and giving the wind enough credit of where it would push the ball or if it hurt or help and stuff.”
Her caddie? Tadd Fujikawa, one of the youngest players to ever make the cut in a PGA Tour event. At 16 years and four days, Fujikawa played the weekend at the 2007 Sony Open, finishing T20 and becoming the third-youngest to see the weekend at a tournament in the Tour’s history. The Honolulu native calls Kapolei Golf Club his home, and was itching to get on a bag.
“I've known Tadd since we were maybe like 12. He reached out to a friend of ours and she already had a caddie and she was like, Hey, Tadd is looking for a caddie, and normally he's not here on the island, and once he became -- I was like, Yeah, I'm going to be here,” said Do. “I was like, Done. It's a no-brainer. Your home course. You're one of the best golfers on the island. So like why would I not take him? So glad it worked out.”
Fujikawa may play this course on the regular, but he was impressed with the women’s game he was able to take in during the first day of LOTTE. “They hit it so straight it's sickening. Yeah, it's a different game out here, you know, just the consistency. With the men's game it's a lot about distance now and that's kind of like the thing,” said Fujikawa. “But, man, these women can hit the ball, I mean, so straight. Putting is unbelievable. Short game is really good. Just solid, solid golf. I mean, boring golf, you know, which is great. That's the kind of golf I want to play.”
The two working in tandem said they’re up for challenge of what tomorrow may bring. “He knows the greens very well, so I had him read pretty much almost all my putts and he was spot on. I mean, he was like, Okay, hit it here, and I would hit it there and it would go in or be close,” said Do. “So that just helps a lot. I mean, with the wind it affects every shot, especially putts, and so just having some local knowledge definitely helps with every shot, let alone just the birdie opportunities and par putts and stuff like that.”
A HOMECOMING FOR 2020/21 TOUR ROOKIE KYUNG KIM IN HAWAII
It has been 14 years since 2020/21 LPGA Tour rookie Kyung Kim was last in Hawaii. Kim was born in Maui, moving to Arizona at age 12 for high school and later venturing to the University of Southern California to play collegiate golf. As one of the home-town favorites this week at the LOTTE Championship, Kim was proud of her first-round effort, recording a 3-under 69 (T18) and four strokes out of the lead.
“It's always great to start off my first tournament (of 2021) as a rookie in Hawaii,” said Kim. “Just brings back so many memories and I get to see a lot of good friends and family, so it's been great.”
Kim explained she’s been battling a wrist injury since 2020, and made a goal this week of simply making the cut. She’s already competed in two events on the Symetra Tour in 2021, finished T48 in her last start at the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. “Symetra prepared me pretty well,” said Kim. “There is lots of good competition out there, and just coming out here it just kind of kept me a little bit more calm instead of like, Oh, my God, I'm playing with the best players in the world, kind of freaking me out.”
Kim has friend, golfer and Hawaii native Tyler Ota on her bag for the week. As an amateur, Ota made two appearances at the Sony Open on the PGA Tour in 2018 and 2020, missing the cut in both starts. He also won the Hawaii State Amateur in 2019. Ota is now a professional, looking to make his own way in the golfing world, but this week he’s making Kim feel as confident as ever at Kapolei Golf Club.
“It's always nice to have someone that you're comfortable with and someone that you know on the bag, especially at an LPGA event. Can be a little nerve wracking,” said Kim. “He's been great. He's been awesome. I'm happy to have him.”
#DRIVEON - THE SKY IS NOT THE LIMIT FOR NASA HATAOKA
She hopes to inspire others as she has been inspired.
Nasa Hataoka was only 16 years old when she won her first Japan Women’s Open, her nation’s most prestigious championship. In Gee Chun, fresh off her U.S. Women’s Open victory, had captured the title the year before and the list of past winners included LPGA Tour stars like Shanshan Feng and Ai
Miyazato, both of whom reached No.1 in the Rolex Rankings. But Feng and Miyazato didn’t successfully defend their Japan Women’s Open victories. Hataoka did. Not only that, Nasa won her national championship three out of four years and would have made it four in a row if not for So Yeon Ryu – also a former world No.1 - who won it in 2019.
Hataoka has won three other events in her homeland, including the Toto Japan Classic, one of her three LPGA Tour victories. But no victory in Japan could eclipse the feeling she will get donning the uniform of her country and making the walk into the Olympic stadium in Tokyo on July 23rd as an Olympic athlete.
“I have mixed feelings if someone were to ask me if I want the Olympics to take place or not, given the situations we are still facing, the risks of spreading the virus, and knowing there are people in Japan that are unsure of holding the games,” Hataoka told LPGA.com. “But seeing the availability of the vaccine and given that I’ve always wanted to play in the Olympics since its return from Rio to my home country, I now have a strong desire to be a part of it and get the gold medal.”
Nothing can top competing in the biggest sporting event on the planet, the Olympic Games, in your home country. But it seems as though Nasa Hataoka has always been destined for greatness. Her parents named their daughter Nasa after the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, the U.S. agency that put men on the moon more than 50 years ago and has been exploring the surface of Mars for decades.
Why did they do that? What does it mean? According to Nasa, “The name was given to me in the hopes that I would spread my wings and fly around the world with the hopes of accomplishing something that’s never been done before.”
To read more of Nasa Hataoka’s #DriveOn story on LPGA.com, click here: lpga.com/news/2021/the-sky-is-not-the-limit-for-nasa-hataoka
To watch her #DriveOn video, click here: https://lpga.box.com/s/kh2n2moeyrrgxa6fd19qslmltfrhb39p (with English subtitles), https://lpga.app.box.com/s/rcptwkd1leltuslybexxjmkfq1byxncd/file/798446281286 (no subtitles)
Rolex Rankings No. 46 Yuka Saso (64)
She hit 10 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens, with 27 putts
Her first-round 64 is her career-low round on the LPGA Tour; her previous best was 69, recorded at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open (first round) and 2021 ANA Inspiration (first round)
This is Saso’s second event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season; she finished T50 at the ANA Inspiration
This is her first appearance at the LOTTE Championship
This is her sixth-career start on the LPGA Tour; her career-best finish is T13 at the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open
Saso is a Member of the JLPGA, where she has earned two wins (2020 NEC Karuizawa 72, 2020 Nitori Ladies Golf Tournament
She turn professional in November 2019 after earning her JLPGA card for 2020
As an amateur, she, Lois Kaye Go and 2020/21 Tour rookie Bianca Pagdanganan secured the golf medal in the women’s team event at the 2018 Asian Games; she would also go on to win the women’s individual event
Rolex Rankings No. 52 Brittany Altomare (64)
She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 24 putts
Her first-round 64 ties her career-low round; she last recorded a 64 at the 2016 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
Her seven-consecutive birdies during round one ties the second-highest number of consecutive birdies in Tour history
This is Altomare’s seventh season on the LPGA Tour; her career-best finish is second, which she’s recorded four times and most recently at the 2019 Volunteers of America Classic
This is her fifth event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is T23 at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala
This is Altomare’s fifth appearance at the LOTTE Championship; her best finish in Hawaii is T12 in 2019
In 2020, was one of 12 players to record an ace on Tour
Altomare crossed the $2 million mark in official career earnings with her T2 finish at the Volunteers of America Classic
She was a member of the 2019 U.S. Solheim Cup Team, posting a 2-1-1 record
In 2013, Altomare finished T44 at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament to first earn LPGA Tour status
She played collegiate golf at the University of Virigina where she recorded three victories, was named the 2013 ACC Player of the Year and was a four-time All-American
