Big names fail to steal the show in the opening round at Crossings Course
The Mobile Bay LPGA Classic will be entering into its second round on Friday, with most of the top-ranked LPGA stars standing outside the top-10.
According to the first-round statistics, lesser-known players have managed to grab the top spot, with Lindsey Wright, Katie Futcher, Caroline Hedwall and Jennifer Rosales standing at the first position on the leaderboard.
The current world number one Yani Tseng, who decided to give a miss to the much-hyped tournament, was expected to grace the field. However, analysts said that despite the absence of Tseng, the field still features plenty of competent players.
The world number three Suzann Pettersen, who was considered one of the hot favourites for the title, faltered in the opening round and carded a 73 to stand tied for the 68th.
Pettersen played grim strokes on the back nine. With the comfortable winds whipping through the course, most of the players found it easier to make calculated putts.
She kicked off the round in a decent style, as she reeled off three birdies. However, on the back nine, she looked completely devastated. She scored two consecutive bogeys on the par-4 11th and par-4 12th.
Analysts said that fans did not expect the world number three to display such a lousy play. She misjudged her putt on the 15th, scoring a double bogey.
Paula Creamer, who currently ranks 10th in the Women’s World Golf Rankings, posted a 71 to stand tied for the 36th spot.
Creamer was among the possible star performers, but she faced a tough resistance from the underdogs.
She kicked off the round in an unimpressive style, as she recorded just one birdie on the front nine. On the back, she displayed a much poorer game. Creamer shot a bogey on the par-4 15th, but made the second birdie on the very next hole.
Moreover, the world number two Na Yeon Choi shot a two-under 70 on the first day to tie for 21st. She got off to a lousy start, as she registered a bogey on the first hole.
She made the second bogey of the round on the par-4 5th. On the back nine, she improved her game to a great extent. She posted three birdies, one eagle and two bogeys.
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