Though it may be a different course compared to last year, defending champion Frida Kinhult (Fiskebackskil, Sweden) said she still feels nothing but “good vibes” while closing out the 2021 season. The 2020 Epson Tour rookie earned her way onto the LPGA Tour in 2021 after finishing fourth on the Race for the Card, helped in part by her victory at 2020 Epson Tour Championship.
“I’m always pumped up at the end of the year. I tend to play better at the end of the round, the end of the week, the end of the year,” laughed Kinhult as she exited LPGA International’s 14th hole once play was suspended on Saturday. “That’s a good thing, but I also have to learn to [play well] earlier, but I know I have to do something well this week to [avoid] Stage II. Obviously just going to keep on going and try to keep hitting some good shots and make some putts.”
Kinhult said she feels like she’s playing “stress-free” golf, only having to save for par once on Saturday. She opened her third round with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1 and 2, adding another two on Nos. 7 and 11. With the Sunday grind ahead of her, the Florida State Seminole said it’s weeks like this that remind her of her college days.
“This morning, we left home by 5:50 so it’s probably going to be the same tomorrow morning. I think we got like 28 holes in today and I have 23 left. If I can manage it today, hopefully I can manage it tomorrow,” said Kinhult. “In college, we played 36 from time to time, so it’s like the good old days. Just keep eating, drinking water, hydrate and just keep going.”
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