Inside the Ropes

Saturday, Third Round of the LPGA Corning Classic:

We find two new players on top of the leader board today. Japan’s Mika Miyazato tied the tournament record with a 10-under-par 62 (30-32) to take a share of the lead with South Korean Soo-Yun Kang entering the final round of the LPGA Corning Classic. The two hold a one-stroke lead over 2008 Rolex Rookie of the Year, Yani Tseng after 54 holes of play. 

Yani Tseng shot 10-under-par to move to third place, just one stroke off from the leaders and also shot a record low 62. (68,70,62)

Team VTech’s Becky Morgan shot 5-under-par for a total of 11-under-par , tied for 25th place. (69,69,67). Karen Stupples shot 7-under-par for a three day total of 10-under-par (73,68,65). Alena Sharp is T69 with 3-under-par (69,71,73). Amy Hung went even today, tied for 57th 5-under-par (68,71,72)

Will this year’s tournament prove to be as exciting as last year’s sudden death playoff between Leta Lindley and Jeong Jang? Check back to find out as the final round of the Corning Classic concludes tomorrow.

Today, cuts were made at the 2009 LPGA Corning Classic with 74 players at 3-under-par. The 2009 cut is the lowest in the 31-year history of the event which dates back to 1979.

France’s Karine Icher carded a 6-under-par 66 in the second round to take the 36-hole lead in Corning. She recorded seven birdies and a bogey at the first hole. She also set the LPGA Corning Classic record for lowest 54-hole total at 14-under-par 130 (64,66).

2006 LPGA Corning Classic champion Hee-Won Han is two shots back of leader Karine Icher. The 30-year-old South Korean started her day with an eagle on the par-4 10th hole and continued with five birdies. She is looking to become the third repeat winner in Corning. 

Team VTech’s Becky Morgan, who shot 3-under-par, is tied for 26th with Natalie Gulbis, Yani Tseng, Brittany Lang, and more, with a score of 6-under-par (69, 69). Amy Hung, who shot 1-under-par today, is tied for 39th at 5-under-par. Alena Sharp is Tied for 52 shooting 1-under-par for a two day total of 4-under-par. (69,71) Karen Stupples shot 4-under-par today to move tie for 63rd place with a two day total of 3-under-par (73,68)

*Kristy McPherson carded the first hole-in-one of the 2009 LPGA Corning Classic. 

Warm weather, light wind, and near-perfect course conditions equaled low scorning in the first round of the 31st LPGA Corning Classic.

The first round of the 31st LPGA Corning Classic found 21-year-old Hee Young Park and 29-year-old Karine Icher share the first round lead at 8-under-par 64. The two, who both tied career-lows in the first round, lead five players at 7-under-par 65 after 18 holes of play. The duo also tied for the LPGA Corning Classic record for low first-round score at 8-under-par 64. Team VTech’s Karen Stupples tied the record back in 2003.

Team VTech’s ranking after round 1: Amy Hung is T24 at 4-under-par 68. Alena Sharp and Becky Morgan are both T32 3-under-par 69. Diana D’Alessio is T72 with 1-under-par 70. Karen Stupples is T103 with 1 over. 

Eagles on the course: Ashleigh Simon and Natalie Gulbis both carded eagles on the 10th hole. 

*2008 Champion Leta Lindley withdrew from competition on Monday morning.

The first round of golf is already underway at the 31st LPGA Corning Classic in Upstate New York. Though Corning maybe a small town, it is the site, of the strongest fields of the year as 28 of the top 30 on the LPGA Official money list will compete, including 18 of the top 20 Rolex ranked players. 

Sarah Lee is currently on top of the leader board with 7-under-par with Yani Tseng (4-under-par), Sarah Kemp (6-under-par), and Morgan Pressel (3-under-par), just a few strokes away. Team VTech’s Karen Stupples is currently even while her teammate Diana D’Alessio has finished with 1-under-par. 

The second round tee off will include the rest of Team VTech: Alena Sharp, Becky Morgan and Amy Hung, on the green, getting into the swing of things. 

*Last year’s winner, Leta Lindley is not competing.