US Open leadup at Jamie Farr Classic
BY Bruce Young | LPGA Tour | 2009 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic | Preview | 30 Jun 2009
With the US Women’s Open just one week away, the LPGA Tour is in Toledo, Ohio this week for the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic at the Highland Meadows Golf Club.
The Highlands Meadow Golf Club is situated just to the north and west of Toledo in an area known as Sylvania. Originally built in 1928 the course has been home to this event since 1989 and in that time one woman, more than any other, has been the dominant golfer.
Se Ri Pak has won this event on five occasions, the last coming in 2007 when she defeated Morgan Pressel. Paula Creamer is the defending champion however after holding off a strong final round challenge by Nicole Castrale.
In a new time slot this season, a week ahead of the US Open, rather than being played after the third major of the year as it has been in recent years, the event takes on a new dynamic and look with those players who like to play the week before a major taking part.
As a result most of the game’s leading players are lining up in the event, which starts on Thursday headed by the world number one Lorena Ochoa who will play her first event since the McDonald’s LPGA Championship nearly three weeks ago. Ochoa will play this week with a newly hired caddie. Greg Johnston, who took over caddying duties during the McDonald’s event is now on the bag replacing long time caddie David Brooker with whom Ochoa won two majors and numerous other LPGA tour titles.
Ochoa has played this event just once previously when she finished 6th in 2004. Ochoa has been less than her dominant self of late and this week provides a litmus test prior to the female game’s most significant event next week.
Last week’s winner, Ji Yai Shin, is in the field and although backing up after a win is not always easy she has made such a habit of winning over the past twelve months she should give a good account of herself.
Kristy McPherson has done well in her two visits to this event and has been in fine form this season. McPherson has yet to win on the LPGA Tour but if her breakthrough was this week then few would be surprised. She has been runner up and 5th in her last two events.
Yani Tseng is playing the event for the first occasion but has already shown a capacity to win events when playing them for the first time. She finished tied for second last week in Rochester and therefore brings form to the event.
Defending champion Paula Creamer was in good form prior to withdrawing last week in Rochester with a thumb injury and as the defending champion and one of the game’s leading players she could do well. That is provided of course she has overcome her injury issues.
With Karrie Webb taking the week off to prepare for the US Open, the Australian challenge this week is headed by the in form Lindsey Wright. Despite not playing well here in her two starts to date, Wright is playing so well that record could be considerably enhanced this week. A breakthrough LPGA Tour win is not far away.
Katherine Hull had a good week here last year when 6th. Hull has not been at the peak of her game she was earlier in the year but neither has her form of late been that bad. She might well bounce back and head to Pennsylvania with a good week behind her.
Rachel Hetherington has a great record at this venue but has struggled for quite some time and seems unlikely to threaten. Sarah Kemp, Michelle Ellis, Sarah Jane Smith and Anna Rawson are the other Australians in the field.
