A bogey-free, 6-under par 66 on the Senator Course at Capitol Hill in the first round of the Guardian Championship launched Janie Jackson (Huntsville, Alabama) into a share of the lead.
“I tend to always feel really comfortable playing out here because I’ve been playing out here since, I don’t know, maybe 14 or 15. So, I know it pretty well,” said Jackson. “Typically, if I’m striking the ball well then you can score good out here. I knew that coming here, so I worked my ball striking a bunch the last two weeks. Everything feels good and greens are tough, so it felt good to roll some putts in today.”
After finishing last season at No. 5 in the Race for the Card, Jackson used the status she gained and has split the season on both the LPGA and Epson Tour. She has made five cuts in seven starts on the LPGA Tour with a season best of T27 at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational. On the Road to the LPGA, the Alabama University alumna has made four cuts in six starts with a season best of T15 at the Copper Rock Championship.
“I mean I’m in a tricky spot having split my year here and out there,” said Jackson. “But I told David (her caddy) before we teed off this week, I’m here, all I can do every day is go out and try to play the best golf that I can. It doesn’t matter where I am and this week, I’m here so that’s what I’m going to do.”