Jennifer Johnson outshines big names in the first round of Navistar LPGA Classic
Jennifer Johnson, a rookie at the LPGA Tour, has fired a career-low 7-under, 65 to take hold of the first-round lead at the Navistar LPGA Classic, being held at the Senator Course on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Capitol Hill in Alabama.
She is leading the 16-year-old Lexi Thompson by only a shot. Becky Morgan of Wales and the American Alison Walshe are tied for third and are only two shots away from her.
World number 1 Yani Tseng, world number 2 Suzann Pettersen and the talented US star Stacy Lewis are not too far behind in a seven-way tie for the 5th position, only three shots behind the leader.
Johnson, who is currently ranked No. 208, was even par through eight holes but hit a birdie on the ninth and propelled herself to a healthy back-nine 30 in tough windy conditions.
She then went on to hit four birdies over her final nine holes, but the highlight of the round came with an eagle at par-4.
Talking about the course conditions, Johnson said, “I was trying hit like a 150-yard shot. I hit my 6-iron like I was trying to land it on the front. I thought it wasn't going to be enough. I was like yelling at it to get up, and then it just kind of curved
right in the hole and I was ecstatic.”
Perhaps Johnson’s performance is not only coming through self motivation, the young lady has promised to donate half of this week’s winning share to this year’s tournament beneficiary, the Wounded Warrior Project.
She decided to help the project after she played a practice game with Dan Nevins and Joe Caley, both of whom suffered brain injuries in Iraq. Not only that, Nevins lost both his legs as well and yet they try to keep a normal lifestyle and love to play golf.
Talking about her experience playing them, Johnson added, “That's given me some extra motivation this week. Hopefully I can keep it up and give a bunch of money to those guys.”
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