SECOND ROUND SUSPENDED DUE TO DARKNESS
The first round of the Windsor Golf Classic resumed at 7:34 a.m. PDT this morning and concluded at 12:36 p.m. local time. Meanwhile, the second round kicked off at 11 a.m. as round one neared its end.
Play in the second round was then suspended at 7:29 p.m. PDT due to darkness with 72 individuals still to complete round two. Competition is set to resume tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. and a cut will be made to the low 60 players and ties after 36 holes. The final round will begin no earlier than 11:15 a.m. tomorrow.
TRIO HEAD INTO FINAL DAY AT 7-UNDER PAR OVERALL
The way Pajaree Anannarukarn (Bangkok, Thailand) was playing today, the melody of air horns sounding to suspend round two because of darkness could’ve waited. Through 10 holes, the 19-year-old is 6-under par and tied for the lead at 7-under overall.
“I hit the ball very well today, striking it very good and that definitely helped make some birdies,” said Anannarukarn, who carded four birdies, an eagle and no bogeys this afternoon. “I really like where my game is at and was able to stay focused. I was looking forward to maybe finishing the round, but we’ll continue tomorrow and hopefully I can keep the momentum.”
Also in the mix is day one overnight co-leaders Marta Sanz Barrio (Madrid, Spain) and Kyung Kim (Chandler, Arizona). Although they started on opposite sides today, both players are 2-under par through nine holes and also 7-under overall.
“I feel like I just played a casual nine holes and it’s good, but I was getting a little bit carried away on the last two holes trying too hard to make birdie,” said Sanz Barrio, who will resume round two on No. 1 in the morning. “I’m glad that we stopped here and can go get ready for tomorrow.”
MAGUIRE HOPING FOR STRONG FINAL DAY TO CAP 10 WEEKS ON THE ROAD
In early February, Leona Maguire (County Cavan, Ireland) left her native country for Dubai to get some practice in ahead of the 2019 season. She hasn’t been home since.
Following her stint in the Middle East, Maguire spent four weeks in Australia competing on the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour (LET). That has been followed by five weeks and four tournaments in the United States on the Epson Tour.
“Trying to have one really good last day tomorrow and looking forward to two weeks off,” said Maguire, who shot a 3-under par 69 in the second round and is currently tied for fifth at 5-under overall. “If the greens stay the way they are, I think you’re going to have to try and go low. The leaderboard is packed. You can hit your irons pretty close and need to take advantage of the par-5s. There’s definitely a low number out there, so let’s see if I can find it tomorrow."
NOTABLE QUOTES
Kyung Kim (-7, T1) on her gameplan heading into the final day:
“I thought because it didn’t rain that much the ball would roll more on the greens, but it didn’t in the beginning so I had a hard time with my distance control. The course is still pretty soft, and my plan tomorrow is to attack the pins, go right for them.”
Julieta Granada (-4, T7) on being so close to the winner’s circle in her first two starts this season:
“You have to keep giving yourself the right angles to the pins. These greens are small, so you definitely need to think your way around the course. I just need to keep playing my game. Last week it hurt a little bit more because I was right there and didn’t finish well the last four holes with the tournament in my hands. All you can do is learn from the experience. Hopefully the third time is the charm.”
Kim Metraux (-4, T7) on waiting to complete round one until today and simply being in the field:
“I was lucky to be in the first group out in the evening yesterday, so we managed to get through nine. It was a good point to stop because of darkness. Today, playing 27 was not as bad as 36 and I thought that was a bit of an advantage. I was first reserve coming into this week and thought I would travel, ended up getting in two days before the event started. It’s a good way to start my Epson Tour career.”
PLAYER NOTES
Marta Sanz Barrio
- Sanz Barrio, 26, is from Madrid, Spain
- Three-time All-SEC Second Team selection for Auburn University was also named to the 2011 SEC All-Freshman Team
- Won the 2014 Ingaro Ladies Open on the Ladies European Tour (LET) Access Series
- Finished T43 at the Final Stage of the 2014 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to earn Priority List Category 17 status for the 2015 LPGA Tour season
- Ladies European Tour (LET) member with more than 40 career starts, including a career-best showing of T6 at the 2015 ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open
- Represented native country at the 2018 Mediterranean Games, leading Spain to the team title and capturing individual gold medalist honors
- Total of 34 career starts on the Epson Tour entering 2019 and became a first-time champion at the 2018 FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship at Battle Creek Country Club
- Really big soccer fan and especially huge supporter of Real Madrid CF
Kyung Kim
- Kim, 25, is from Chandler, Arizona
- Competed as part of the West Team at the 2011 Wyndham Cup
- Member of Team USA for the 2011 Junior Solheim Cup in Ireland
- Captured the 2012 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship title
- Three-time All-Pac 12 First Team performer for the University of Southern California
- Three-time Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) All-American, including a First Team selection in 2013 and 2014
- Made 14 starts as a rookie on the Epson Tour in 2017 with a season-best solo fourth result in the Gateway Classic at Longbow Golf Club
- Across 17 events last year, played the weekend 13 times and finished tied for eighth on two occasions (Donald Ross Classic, FireKeepers Casino Hotel Championship)
- Finished T1 at the Second Stage of the 2018 LPGA Qualifying Tournament to advance to the inaugural LPGA Q-Series at Pinehurst Resort
- Career-best solo third showing at the 2019 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic in March
Pajaree Anannarukarn
- Anannarukarn, 19, is from Bangkok, Thailand
- As a rookie on the Epson tour in 2018, recorded four top-10 finishes in 20 starts with a season-best tied for second result at the IOA Invitational
- Finished tied for 39th at the inaugural LPGA Q-Series to earn Priority List Category 14 status for the 2019 LPGA Tour season, her rookie year on the big stage
- Prior to 2019, made one start on the LPGA Tour at 2017 Honda LPGA Thailand where she captured a tied for 64th result
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