LOCAL EASTVALE NATIVE PIYAPATTRA IN HUNT: Michelle Piyapattra (Eastvale, Calif.) is thankful that she gets to start the year sleeping in her own bed at home, which is about 50 minutes from Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.

“This is the only Epson Tour event that is even close so it is nice to start the year here,” said Piyapattra.

The second-year professional posted a 2-under 70 on Saturday to move to a tie for fifth at 5-under. She made four birdies on the day including a stretch of three in a row from the fourth through the sixth hole.

Piyapattra is pleasantly surprised at how well she’s doing this week. She used to play in junior series events on the Southern California PGA (SCPGA) on the Champions course and the Legends course at the now Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.

“I never did well, it was a hard course and it still is,” said Piyapattra.

This week has a special feel for the local professional. Her home course is Goose Creek in Mira Loma and her instructor is Craig Chapmon, who is based out of Los Angeles. Chapmon also works with several other professional golfers.

Piyapattra is still using a yardage book that she bought as a junior this week. She doesn’t know the exact year, but it’s from pre-2010 when Morongo purchased the course. The course has been updated since and the book is missing the hazard on 11 and several bunkers among other things.

“We were thinking about getting a new yardage book, but I was like ‘we’ll be fine’ and we’ve rolled with it,” said Piyapattra. “I just have to stay away from the newer bunkers.”

The biggest thing she focused on in the offseason was slowing down her tempo.

“I was sometimes a little bit of a loose cannon out here last year and especially now walking during practice rounds, I’ll be more tired,” explained Piyapattra. “I just want to be very consistent with everything I do.”

AUGUSTA JAMES REBOUNDS WITH A 66: Augusta James (Bath, Ontario) carded a 3-over 75 on Friday and made bogey on her first two holes on Saturday. Standing on the third tee box she had doubts as to whether she’d be around for Sunday. Things quickly turned around with a birdie on the third. She made birdie on eight of her final 16 holes to post a 6-under 66 and moved from T67 to T11.

“Even at the start of today, I missed a 3-footer for par, but I just thought I was making poor reads, not bad putts,” explained the former All-American at N.C. State James. “I got really into the detail of the greens the rest of the day and it made a huge difference.”

James, who won the Chico’s Patty Berg Memorial as a rookie in 2015 and finished 12th on the Volvik Race for the Card money list, said she was a little nervous yesterday with the start of the new year.

“It was my first serious competition back,” said James, who took time off in December and then played a couple tune up mini tour events in January. “I see the same faces which is kind of nice. It is a lot different than last year.”

After missing out on her LPGA Tour card by less than $800, James has set lofty goals for 2016.

“I set some outcome goals that are a little bit loftier than last year because I know now what I am capable of doing and how things are run out here,” said James. “I have more detailed oriented goals of what I want to get done during the week that will help me play better.”

Off the course, James loves to watch movies with her fellow Tour players from week-to-week. After her round, she was off to go watch “How to be Single”.

IOA Championship RD 2 Notes: Native Piyapattra In Hunt; James Rebounds with 66

Related Articles