Inside the Ropes

At the end of round two, scores were all over the place today as players scored as low as 5-under-par 67 and as high as 14-over-par 86, and yesterday’s top scorer German Sandra Gal found herself in the red with 8-over-par 80 which took her from first (3-under-par 69) to tied for 25th. Another top ten player that has dropped to 25th place was Michelle Wie at 5-over-par 149. Though it may have seemed she might have been on course to possibly win her first major, you can never tell after just one round.

Currently occupying the leaderboard are Scotland’s Catriona Matthew, who carded two consecutive eagles, and Italy’s Giulia Sergas, tied for first with 3-under-par 141. Both shot 5-under par today. Yani Tseng who lost out to Jiyai Shin by three strokes last year for the championship has moved into 5th place, tied wtih Christina Kim and Kyeong Bae at even-par 144. Recent Evian Masters winner Ai Miyazato is currently tied for 11th with Angela Stanford and Jane Park at 2-over-par 146. Last year’s champion Jiyai Shin is currently tied for 17th at 4-over-par 148. And Team VTech’s Becky Morgan is tied for 42nd with 7-over-par 151.(2004 champion Karen Stupples posted a five-over-par 77 and was 15-over-par, unable to move forward.)

Seventy-one players made the cut and we’ll watch how the weather and the players do this last major of the 2009 season plays out. Keep it here on VTech: Inside the Ropes.

In Lancashire, England, the ladies of the LPGA just finished a rough day on the green (winds topping off at 30mph, 200+ bunkers, and dry greens) with the top spot being held by Germany’s Sandra Gal with five birdies and 2 bogies in the final major championship of the 2009 season, the RICOH Women’s British Open at the Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club. Gal was the only player to break 70 today, finishing at 3-under-par 69. Closely following behind are Texan Angela Stanford and South Korean Song-Hee Kim both at 2-under-par 70. Michelle Wie finds herself rounding out the top ten after the first round at 1-over-par 73, tied for 7th with three others. Sixty-seven players shot 80 or higher today

Recent Evian Masters winner Ai Miyazato is tied for 24th at 3-over-par 75 while last year’s championJiyai Shin is tied for 52nd at 5-over-par 77. Team VTech’s Becky Morgan is tied for 88th at 8-over-par 80, Karen Stupples is tied for 117th at 10-over-par 82, Amy Hung is tied for 123rd at 11-over-par 83, and Alena Sharp is tied for 139 at 14-over-par 86.

Soo-Yun Kang has been disqualified.

We’ll see if conditions continue to cause more difficulty on the fairway or if it’ll be smooth sailing from now on. Check back with VTech for more news on the RICOH.

Team VTech’s and UK native, Karen Stupples is at the RICOH Women’s British Open this week. A familiar face on the LPGA scene, Stupples is the 2004 champion of the RICOH. Here is the pre-interview Stups had with Colin Callender about being back for the RICOH.

KAREN STUPPLES

COLIN CALLENDER: Good afternoon, we have Karen Stupples in the interview area, the 2004 champion. It must still give you a great buzz to come back to this championship.
KAREN STUPPLES: It really does. It’s always been very special. You know, just to come here back to my home country, have my family around me, and this year particularly on a links golf course, too, and one that’s in such tremendous shape, is awesome.

COLIN CALLENDER: You finished Top-10 in 2006 here. I suspect the course played rather differently.
KAREN STUPPLES: It did. They very kindly put in some new bunkers which I think are going to cause a few issues this week. The rough is a lot thicker and it’s very green, as well so you’re not getting the run-out that you were before.
It’s six of one-half a dozen of another: You’re not going to get the run out into the rough and you might be able to hold the greens a bit better, but the holes will be playing longer.

COLIN CALLENDER: Are there any bunkers in particular out there that are going to cause you problems?
KAREN STUPPLES: I think the ones on three, the two new ones in the left, and the new hilling they put in there; I think on 14, as well, there’s a new bunker they put in up the left side, so you can’t really bail out down there anymore. You have to think about either being short, or being very straight.

Q. So do you think it will be a tougher test?
KAREN STUPPLES: I really do. I think right now if you shoot even par, it’s open to anybody this week.

Q. Do the conditions suit your game, the softer greens rather than obviously the hard, fast you’re used to in links?
KAREN STUPPLES: I would probably say yes, because I tend to hit the ball quite far and so it’s quite nice to be able to land it on the green, which would be very helpful, but you’ll be going in with a lot bigger club.

I think in the past, there are holes that I remember going in with little wedge and this year seems like a 5-iron. It’s going to be more of a test for sure. I think the biggest test is going to be staying out of the fairway bunkers to be honest. You have a better chance of making par from around the green than you do from a fairway bunker.

Q. Five years ago we all hoped your victory would be the start of a great push for British women’s golf, and at least from the outside, it doesn’t look like that’s happened. What’s your own thoughts on whether it’s been disappointing to you how it’s gone?
KAREN STUPPLES: From my perspective, obviously I’ve been on Tour a few years now, and I keep expecting to see a whole load of British golfers come up and come through. It seems like a lot of the players want to stay in Europe and play, and I personally don’t understand that.

I know that Melissa Reid has aspirations to come out to the States, and I think that would be a very good move for her, and anybody else, really, who wants to improve and be in the top of the game, because really, you need to play against the best week-in, week-out, and obviously that is the LPGA right now.

Q. Having said what you just said, and in the current economic climate, how can the tours in women’s golf support right now?
KAREN STUPPLES: I think that as the end of the year rolls on, I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised how the LPGA Tour will come through it. I think right now it seems like it’s a bit doom and gloom, but I think when everything shakes out, I think it will be okay.

Q. And the European?
KAREN STUPPLES: This tour here, the European? I’m really a bit of an outsider to the European Tour, so that’s something that I can’t really make a very good comment. Because I may come here and play a few times but not that much, and I’m certainly not privy to any of the meetings. I haven’t been able to attend any of the meetings there. So I haven’t had a chance, so I’m sorry.

Q. When do you think about the Japanese player, Ai Miyazato?
KAREN STUPPLES: I was very happy for her to win last week at Evian. I think it was very long overdue for her to win on the LPGA, very strong player, very good, and she’s very nice, too. I like her very much.
So I was very excited for her. She deserves it. And I’m looking forward to playing with her.

COLIN CALLENDER: You have a very good pairing tomorrow, don’t you.
KAREN STUPPLES: I don’t know how that happened. Very happy with that, Lorena and I, good group.

Q. How do you see the chances in the Solheim Cup, because it’s a bit gloom and doom from a lot of Europeans looking at it going over there with the strength of the American Team on paper.
KAREN STUPPLES: Yeah, it looks that way, doesn’t it, on paper. Everything looks very much for them on paper, and I would say that the European Team will be very much the underdogs going over there and playing.

Match play is a funny game at any level. And I think that anything can happen. You have to just look at the current form of players playing and I think The European Team as such is playing pretty well right now and I think they will be a match for anybody.

Q. Have you been encouraged to try and play more in Europe with the qualifying system?
KAREN STUPPLES: Yes, it has and it’s a disappointment to myself that I have not been able to come over and play too much more. Obviously with a two-year-old, it’s a little bit more complicated for me getting back to play. Even packing his luggage and getting him into the car is a hassle sometimes. So coming all the way back from America to here to play a couple of events is very difficult.

I’m playing in Wales next week. That doesn’t help, obviously, with the numbers, but it’s not through lack of not wanting to. It’s just due to the logistics of having a family and trying to do that with them. So I would be relying on a pick.

Q. And how do you view that?
KAREN STUPPLES: I don’t know. I mean, I’m in the running for a pick, because I’ve been invited, but I don’t know if that is a good sign or not. I think it very much depends on what happens this week and how things shake out with the European rankings and the World Rankings. But I’m definitely on the short list, but as I said, you never know. I mean, for me, I just want Alison to pick the team that can win. Whether I’m on that or not, it doesn’t worry me. It would be much better that the team wins. So she has a tough job ahead of her, but she’s certainly up to the task.

Q. How confident are you shooting a low score this week?
KAREN STUPPLES: I’ve tried to not think about score, because I think this golf course is — you know, you’re going to have some holes that will play easy and some holes that will play hard. So you have to almost take par out of the equation when you go out and play.

I’m trying to not think of numbers and just play the best that I can play, and hopefully that will mean that I will be sitting here with the trophy at the end of the week. But you know, if I take numbers out, and just try and do the best that I can, I would have a good chance.

Q. What would you say to those people who are looking with regards to the Solheim Cup that are looking at the way women’s golf has gone the last couple of years, and does it need changing, the makeup of the two teams?
KAREN STUPPLES: I actually like the way the two teams are. I think the Solheim Cup is a great tournament, and it would be a shame for it to change. It’s just too good of an event. There’s too much tradition, too many chants on the first tee for it to change (laughing).

Q. (Regarding changing format).
KAREN STUPPLES: I believe there was some talk about that with Carolyn, the old Commissioner, but I don’t think anything came of it.

Q. The qualification system looks increasingly out-moded year after year when we get to A Solheim Cup; are you still comfortable with it?
KAREN STUPPLES: It is what it is, and I think that they have made great improvements in the qualifying for the European Team for sure.

I think taking World Ranking in consideration is fantastic. And Alison having three picks on top of that, I really think that she should be able to get the best team that she could possibly get out of the new criteria.

Q. Can you just shed some light on the matters of bringing grass roots in America, how it doesn’t happen from watching in this country, we don’t seem to have enough juniors playing the game.
KAREN STUPPLES: I know that in America, they have high school golf teams and then obviously the university golf teams, so they are starting playing competitions against different high schools at a younger age, and I think that that’s a good thing, because they are doing it in school.

I think in the U.K., very much you are left to your own devices. You have to be self-motivated and self-driven enough to do it for yourself, and that really applies to any sport here. When I was in school, you could play netball or field hockey, and really, there wasn’t any other option to do much else.

So in America, you have so much more opportunity to do all different kind of sports. And I think that probably helps to be honest. But in the absence of doing in schools, I think you need to have more clubs and groups that start kids off young. I know that at my sister’s school, they have the little golf with the plastic clubs and the big balls, tri-golf, and that looked fun.

And I think if you can start seeing golf as fun, I think more kids will start playing.

I know my son, looking at my son now, I can’t imagine him playing golf, he’s too high energy. It’s pretty expensive to be a member of a club in the States. And I think — I don’t honestly know if I had grown up in the States, I don’t know if I would have even played golf, because I was very fortunate that my dad actually started as an associate member at Prince’s Golf Club, and eventually he got to be a full member. And through him I got free golf, because I was a junior, so I had free golf there. And then I continued to have free golf; I think if I would have had to pay for it growing up, certainly my father never could have afforded it for us.

So, I don’t know, at least in that way, the clubs are doing the right thing. I think it’s just a question of almost image I think, changing the image a little bit here, and trying to make it the in-sport.

I think the other thing as well, they talk about trying to get golf into the Olympics, I think that would be huge for golf in general because I think then it would be much more visible to a lot of people.

To see the rest of the pre-tournament interviews, please click here: LPGA

This week, the ladies of the LPGA have moved on from France to the UK, Lancashire, England, for the RICOH Women’s British Open, the only Major played outside of the US and the final major of the 2009 season.

Defending champion Jiyai Shin returns to RICOH Women’s British Open to compete against a field of 144 women at the historic Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club. 23 nationalities will be presented in this event. Team VTech’s Alena Sharp, Amy Hung, Becky Morgan and Karen Stupples will be teeing off at the RICOH and we wish our ladies luck.

We’ll check back as play begins later this week.

Team VTech’s Becky Morgan sat down for a quickie with the LPGA to answer 18 questions. Here are a few things you didn’t know about your favorite player, and neither did we…

Becky Morgan’s Quick 18

1. Are you a neat freak or do you prefer the messier side of life? I’m a bit of both

2. If calories and fat grams didn’t exist or matter, what dessert would you eat every day? Chocolate from the U.K., especially Cadburys

3. What is the one thing you absolutely must do in order to get your day started right? Hit snooze at least once!

4. If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? I think Ellen DeGeneres is hilarious, and I love her show, so it would probably have to be her.

5. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? How does my hair get like that overnight!!

6. Do you parallel park or drive around the block looking for another spot? Parallel park! We have to do it in our driving test in the U.K. and there is no place to park over there so you have to be good at it.

7. What is your favorite pizza topping? Ham and pineapple

8. Are you a morning person or a night owl? Definite night owl.

9. Is there anything you won’t eat? Mustard

10. What is the craziest thing a fan has requested of you? I signed someone’s cellphone once, which I thought was quite strange.

11. Who is the most frequently dialed person in your cell phone call log? Diana D’Alessio, a fellow LPGA Pro.

12. What was your first job? Bartender

13. If you could be on a reality TV show which one would you choose? Amazing Race. My partner would be Audrey Gerdes, who caddies for Sophie Gustafson. We talk about it all the time.

14. If you get lost while driving, do you stop for directions, make a phone call, or just try to figure it out? Usually stop for directions

15. What do you usually eat for breakfast before your round? Eggs or a bagel

16. If you could go back or forward in time, where would you go? I would like to go back in time and see if I could survive without all the luxuries of today.

17. What song would you sing if you had to sing Karaoke? Any Pink song.

18. Name one thing you always keep stocked in your refrigerator? Guinness.

For more Quick 18’s, check out the LPGA , and check back with Team VTech to stay, Inside the Ropes..

After four years on the LPGA Tour without a win, Ai Miyazato is triumphant at the Evian Masters Presented by Société Générale, and becomes a first time winner beating Sophie Gustafson in one-hole, sudden-death playoff.

With her first win under her belt, Miyazato is elated. But I’m sure the $487,500 in prize money from the $3.25 million purse doesn’t hurt!

Helen Alfredsson tied for 5th at 11-under-par 277. Na Yeon Choi and In-Kyung Kim tied for 8th at 10-under-par 278. Becky Brewerton, a 54 hole leader, finished tied for 13th at 8-under-par 280. And Team VTech’s Karen Stupples finished tied for 40th at 2-under-par 286. Way to go Stups!

Check back next week as the women head to England for the RICOH British Open!

Maybe three is a lucky number? Or there could be something in the water here in Evian, France. Last year’s champion Helen Alfredsson had to fight her way out of a three way tie to win, and this year, after three rounds there are still three players tied for the lead. Will there be a repeat of what happened last year? If so, we’re in for some good golf tomorrow for the final round.

Today, Sophie Gustafson finds herself on top of the leaderboard at 12-under-par 204 with In-Kyung Kim and Becky Brewerton. She shot 5-under-par 67 today to bump Ai Miyazato out of the top spot. Right behind them is Cristie Kerr and Miyazato at 11-under-par 205. Last year’s champion and three time Evian Masters winner Helen Alfredsson has moved into the top ten and in striking distance tied for 7th at 9-under-par 207. But with Na Yeon Choi and Se Ri Pak moving up in the ranks right behind her, it could be anyone’s game.

Team VTech’s Karen Stupples is tied for 38th with 1-under-par 215 and finds herself in noteworthy company. Suzann Pettersen, Pat Hurst, Morgan Pressel and Candie Kung are all tied for 38th as well.

The “wild card “Mika Miyazato finds herself tied in 70th place at 8-over-par 224.

Check back tomorrow for the final round of the Evian Masters and see who wins the monster purse.

After the second round of the Evian Masters presented by Societe Generale, three still remained tied for first (Welsh Becky Brewerton and S. Korean Na Yeon Choi), the only difference, Ai Miyazato from Japan has replaced In-Kyung Kim with 9-under-par 135 to take her top spot. Kim is one stroke behind at 8-under-par 136.

After today’s round, the 90 player field has been cut to 74 players who carded 3-over-par 147 or better.

Three time winner of the Evian Masters, Helen Alfredsson of Sweden is still in position to defend her championship. She’s only four strokes behind from the leaders at 5-under-par 139. Right behind Alfredsson is Team VTech’s Karen Stupples, still in contention with 4-under-par 140.

At the end of round one of the Evian Masters, we find ourselves with a three way tie for first place with Becky Brewerton, In-Kyung Kim and Na Yeon Choi at 5-under-par 67. Just one stroke behind is another tie, with four players tied for fourth: Ji Young Oh, Karine Icher (one of five invited players to participate in the Evian Masters), Wendy Ward, and Team VTech’s very own Karen Stupples at  4-under-par 68.

Ai Miyazato rounds out the top ten, tied for 8th at 3-under-par 69. She is one of seven Japanese players competing at the Evian Masters, a record for this event.

Last year’s champion Helen Alfredsson is currently tied for 13th at 2-under-par 70 and the “wild card” of the tournament, 19 year-old Japanese rookie, Mika Miyazato is tied for 27th at 1-under-par 71.

One player, Angela Park did not start today.

Check back with VTech tomorrow as we see what surprises Round “Deux” of the Evian Masters has in store for us.

Did someone say Evian? This week Team VTech’s Karen Stupples is in Evian-les-Bains, France at the Evian Masters Golf Club for the Evian Masters Presented by Societe Generale. We’ll see Stupples go up against last year’s champion and our favorite feisty Swed, Helen Alfredsson who defeated Angela Park and Na Yeon Choi in a three-hole, sudden-death playoff last year. Alfredsson has won this event more than any other player.

In its 10th year on the LPGA Tour schedule, the Evian Masters features 90 players worldwide who represent some of the best women in professional golf, and a king’s ransom in prize money with a purse bursting at $3.25 million. That’s enough move to shake up the ranks in the money list. Watch out for Helen Alfredsson to possible capture another Evian Masters or Lorena Ochoa, who’s hoping to break her tournament streak since spring with a win here in France, rookie Jiyai Shin, who has won her fair share of tournaments this year proving that she is indeed a contender and of course, our very own, Karen Stupples.

Check back with VTech for more tournament news and see what happens next.