CLOSING STRETCH PROPELS GUTIERREZ NUNEZ
On moving day at Capital Hills Golf Course in Albany, N.Y., a career low score to par of 6-under par 65 launched Ingrid Gutierrez Nunez (Cuautla, Mexico) up The CDPHP Open leaderboard into a share of the 36-hole lead at 10-under par overall.
The University of New Mexico alumna closed a bogey-free performance with three straight birdies from Nos. 7-9. Gutierrez Nunez hopes to use the momentum tomorrow when she heads off No. 1 tee at 12:20 p.m. ET in the final pairing.
“It feels great, but at the beginning I wasn’t making many putts,” said Gutierrez Nunez. “At the end, I focused on having a good putt and not the result, then they started to drop. I’m really excited for this and am going to go do the same thing tomorrow.”
LEBLANC FINDS GROOVE WITH BROTHER ON BAG
The other half of the final pairing at 10-under par overall is Maude-Aimee Leblanc (Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada), who turned in a bogey-free effort of her own this afternoon going 4-under par.
Only 300 miles from her hometown, Leblanc has a large support group in attendance this week including her brother on the bag. The comfort has reminded the 30-year-old of the fun nature the game brings.
“He would caddy a lot back when I was an amateur in junior golf, but not so much since I’ve turned pro,” said Leblanc. “As my best friend, it is nice to have him and really makes the game just a game. Par-5s are where I’m trying to get most of my birdies. Pins can be tricky, and you don’t want to short-side yourself too much. I guess tomorrow I’ll be smart-aggressive.”
CLYBURN STAYS IN THE HUNT WITH STEADY SECOND ROUND
She held the outright 18-hole advantage, but Holly Clyburn (Cleethorpes, England) will be chasing in the final round. A past Ladies European Tour champion, Clyburn stayed steady on day two in the Capital Region with five birdies and three bogeys for a 2-under par 69.
“I played really well today actually, as well as I did yesterday,” said Clyburn, who is one of three players just one shot back at 9-under par overall. “Obviously, a few leaky shots here and there, which is bound to happen. I’m pleased with how I played, just how I finished with a bogey on the last is never nice. I’d rather be where I am now than at the top of the leaderboard."
NOTABLE QUOTES
Liz Nagel (-9, T3) on a second round 7-under par 64:
“I hit a lot of fairways and greens, made a couple long putts and only one silly bogey. I think if you put it in the right spot on this course, there’s a lot of opportunities and you can see it with the scores. On the par-5s, you can get close or on in two for an easy up and down because there are some tricky bunkers.”
Yujeong Son (-8, T6) on what three straight top-10s has taught her:
“I’m not feeling too much pressure when I tee on the first hole. Being in those positions has helped my mental game, playing my game and not thinking too much about what’s ahead. Trusting my game and not thinking too much is really big for me, especially since I’ve been hitting it good the last few weeks.”
Esther Lee (-8, T6) on the desire to win and her mentality for the final round:
“The way I’ve been playing, I can definitely win. I would be disappointed if I didn’t win with how I’ve been playing, but golf is golf and it’s a process. I’m going to go out tomorrow and shoot the best I can. The course is playing firmer than early in the week, so it gets tricky to attack pins on some holes.”
PLAYER NOTES
Ingrid Gutierrez Nunez
- Gutierrez Nunez, 23, is a native of Cuautla, Mexico
- Two-time All-Mountain West First Team selection for the University of New Mexico
- Led the Lobos with a 73.55 scoring average as a sophomore in the 2015-2016 campaign
- Finished T120 at the Second Stage of the 2018 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn Epson Tour status for the 2019 season
- Made her Epson Tour debut at the 2019 IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Beaumont, California
- Career-low score to par in second round of 2019 CDPHP Open at Capital Hills Golf Course when she carded a 6-under par 65
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