LPGA Hits Upstate New York For Its Championship; Christie Kerr Defends

The LPGA championship at Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford is underway. Located in a suburb that also contains CC Rochester, Oak Hill and Irondequoit, Pittsford is golf-rich, to say the least. The ladies have called this course home for over two decades; with Wegmans’ support, the event is now a major championship on tour.

First round? Nearly everything you want. Yani Tseng, the best player in the game, is on top. Paula Creamer, the best US player and the holder of the US Open title, is second at -5, one shot back. After Christie Kerr’s march to victory in 2010 (12-stroke victory after 68-66-69-66), anything more than four strokes back might be done if Tseng keeps it up. Also in the top ten after round one are Morgan Pressel, Nabisco champion Stacy Lewis and Angela Stanford.

Surprising first-round scores came from purported wunderkinds Jessica Korda (+1), Lexi Thompson (+2)– [who is giving these kids advice to turn pro so early? Just thinking out loud !! ] Juli Inkster (+2) Brittany Lang (+2) and Jiyai Shin (+3). For these competitors, it’s time to work on their games, in preparation for the next event…the ship has sailed on victory at the 2011 LPGA Championship.