Stacy Lewis misses out on second 59 in LPGA tour history but shares Founders Cup lead
Friday 17 March 2017 07:59, UK
Stacy Lewis missed a chance to shoot the second 59 in LPGA Tour history, settling for an eight-under 64 and a share of the first-round lead on Thursday in the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Phoenix.
Playing in near-perfect conditions at Desert Ridge, Lewis was nine under through 11 holes but parred the next six and closed with a bogey after hitting into the deep left greenside bunker.
"Kind of back there on the back nine the ball started going really far," Lewis said. "Maybe some adrenaline, I'm not really sure. Or just the dry air."
Playing partner Ariya Jutanugarn, In Gee Chun, Katie Burnett and Sandra Changkija joined Lewis atop the leaderboard on the Wildfire layout. All five played in the afternoon.
Michelle Wie and 56-year-old Juli Inkster were a stroke back along with Jane Park, Vicky Hurst and Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong on a day when 103 of the 144 players broke par.
Lewis holed out from 136 yards for eagle on the par-four ninth to make the turn in seven-under 27.
"You kind of start thinking a little bit about what you're shooting at that point, but just tried to keep hitting good shots," Lewis added.
"I did that for the most part most of the day. If you'd tell me at the beginning of the day I would shoot eight under, I would take it any time."
She birdied 10 and 11 and made a series of par saves before dropping the stroke on the last after short-siding herself and finding a bad lie in the bunker.
"It was pretty bad," Lewis said. "It was kind of back up against a rake mark, so ton of sand behind the ball. Didn't have a shot at it. Just trying to make bogey at that point."
The 32-year-old Texan was trying to join Annika Sorenstam as the only LPGA Tour players to break 60. Sorenstam accomplished the feat 16 years ago to the day, shooting a 13-under 59 at nearby Moon Valley.
Lewis won the event in 2013 to reach No 1 in the world, was second in 2014 and 2015 and tied for fourth last year. The 11-tour champion is winless in 66 events since June 2014 and has slipped to 14th in the world.
