LPGA notebook
Wright within reach of first victory
PITTSFORD—Lindsey Wright said positive preparation has been a key to her recent success.
“My mental preparation has improved before the round,” she said. “Visualizing the shots —and kind of applying it in your mind before you go out and play. That way once you get out there, it isn’t a surprise.”
With continued success, her first tournament win might not be a surprise either.
Wright shot a 5-under 67 with six birdies and one bogey Saturday in the third round of the Wegmans LPGA. She remains tied for fourth place at 10 under, six strokes behind leader Jiyai Shin, heading into today’s final round.
The tournament is the 108th of Wright’s professional career and 12th this year, but a victory still eludes the sixth-year player.
“I started very well today,” she said. “I was 3 under after five holes. I played the front nine very well so I had good momentum going into back nine.”
The same trend goes for her year so far.
Wright has garnered three top-10 finishes this season in the past three months, which came in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Michelob Ultra Open and the LPGA Championship.
“I’m in a good place,” she said. “I feel like this year I’ve started well and I’ve built from it rather than playing poorly and feeling lost.”
Wright has only missed one cut so far this season, whereas she missed four last year and six in 2007 and ’06.
Wright’s second-place finish in the LPGA Championship marked a career best, where she wound up four strokes behind champion Anna Nordqvist.
So it shouldn’t be too hard for her to visualize more success. Maybe even a win.
“I played well today and hung in there really,” she said. “I’m in a great position.”
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The tournament’s cut at 1- over 145 tied a tournament low reached only twice since 1977 —2008 and 1994. In-Kyung Kim, who is at 6 under, said she thought it might have been partly due to how the course played and the level of competition.
“All the players get better and better every week,” said Kim. “Cut was 2 under, 1 under for the last few weeks. I think the competition got harder and better.”
•••
Jiyai Shin broke a tournament record for the best 36 holes shooting 11-under par (65-68-133). Only three golfers have shot 10 under through 36: Amy Alcott, Betsy King and Morgan Pressel.
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Two players near the top of the leader board, Michelle Wie and Kristy McPherson, struggled Saturday. Wie (69-68-75-212) entered the round 7 under while McPherson (67-69-76-212) was 8 under.
Wie had five bogeys on the front nine, and managed to post two birdies on the back nine. McPherson had three bogeys and two double bogeys.
•••
Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods’ niece, missed the cut by four strokes after shooting a 74-75-149. . . . Paula Creamer withdrew after the first round at 1-over 73 with a hand injury.
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