Round One News and Notes: Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC

Round One Recap - Joanna Klatten Leads the Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC.

Rookie Alison Lee is beginning to find her way out here on Tour. Lee has played in eight events and made five cuts, her best finish is an impressive fourth place at the Kia Classic.

Lee had 26 putts on her round Thursday to put her tied for second heading into the clubhouse. Lee’s short game has always been her strength, but with adjusting to life on Tour she has had to make it a point to continue to focus on her putting and not let it begin to slip.

“My short game was my strength,” Lee said. “Being out here on tour as a rookie, I’m just getting used to everything out here and I haven’t been practicing my short game as much. I have been trying to do my best to practice a little more of my short game instead of just hitting range balls and playing every day.”

Morgan Pressel’s strong 2015 season continues to get stronger after a 5-under 66 in the opening round of the Kingsmill Championship presented by JTBC. Pressel is one of three players tied for second, just one stroke off leader Joanna Klatten. 

Since the ANA Inspiration earlier this spring, Pressel has finished in the top-20 of all four events, including third at ANA Inspiration and a second place finish at the Swinging Skirts LGPA Classic. Pressel is confident this week as she looks for her first win since 2008 at the Kapalua LPGA Classic.

“I am giving myself opportunities, and, I mean, I know that I’m capable of playing well,” Pressel said.  “I’m confident in my game, so I just need to carry that into the rest of the week and hopefully be in contention come Sunday afternoon.”

CADDIE CHANGE FOR KLATTEN

Joanna Klatten has a new caddie on her bag for the week after parting ways with her previous caddie. With Natalie Gulbis working for Fox Sports this week at the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four Ball Championship, her caddie Greg Sheridan became available. It wasn’t the first time Klatten has worked with Sheridan though. They worked together at the 2014 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic where Klatten also shot a career-low round of 65 in the final round.

“We make a great team,” Klatten said. “I really like having him on my bag. I feel very comfortable with him. He’s a great caddie, so it’s a nice change for sure.”

PLEASING PAULA

After withdrawing from the Volunteers of America North Texas Shootout two weeks ago, Paula Creamer returned to action to shoot an impressive opening-round 67 at the Kingsmill Championship presented by JTBC. Creamer’s best finish in 2015 was a T-10 at the Kia Classic, but she is pleased with where her game is headed.

“I am very pleased with where my game is at,” Creamer said. “I have a good mental approach to things right now and I’m feeling good with my putter. Just trying not to get in my own way and keep doing what I been doing in my next week off last week and see what happens in the next three days.”

LPGA NOMINATED AS SPORTS LEAGUE OF THE YEAR

The LPGA was announced as one of the five finalists for the Sports Business Journal/Daily Sports League of the Year award category for the Sports Business Awards. Joining the LPGA as the other leagues nominated for the Sports League of the Year award are NASCAR, Major League Soccer (MLS), the Big East Conference and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

“I’m excited for our entire team, whose efforts have been tremendous. We are very honored to be recognized as a finalist by SBJ among other prestigious sports league,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said. “The LPGA had a magical year filled with incredible storylines touching every part of our organization and many Tour victories that showed everyone global success is the best kind of sports story.”

The Sports Business Awards were established to recognize excellence, innovation and outstanding achievements in the business of sports. Nominations were earned for accomplishments during the period from March 1, 2014, to February 28, 2015. The executives and members representing SportsBusiness Journal/Daily will evaluate the nominees and determine the winners, who will be announced at a ceremony on May 20 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

AIRTIMES THIS WEEK

Golf Channel will broadcast all the action at the Kingsmill Championship presented by JTBC with air times listed below. All times listed are Eastern.

May 15

9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (Tape Delay)

May 16

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

May 17

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

You can always catch full coverage of the LPGA on the Golf LIVE Extra app / golfchannel.com.

KEY NUMBERS TO KNOW

1- This is the first time in her career that Joanna Klatten has led or co-led after the first round

3- Number of wins for Cristie Kerr at the Kingsmill Championship

7 - Top-10 finishes for Lydia Ko and Stacy Lewis in 2015, which leads the LPGA

11- This year marks the 11th year of the Kingsmill Championship

14 - Consecutive weeks spent at the top of the Rolex Rankings for Lydia Ko

19 - Annika Sorenstam’s 19-under in 2009 is the Kingsmill tournament record

65 - Joanna Klatten’s opening round score at the Kingsmill Championship, tying her career-low round of 65 in the final round at the 2014 Manulife Financial LPGA Classic

ROLEX RANKINGS SCENARIOS

Below are the Rolex Rankings No. 1 projections for this week at the Kingsmill Championship.  

Lydia Ko can maintain No. 1 if:

She finishes in a two-way tie for second or better even if Inbee Park wins.

Park finishes in a three-way tie for second or worse even if Lydia misses the cut.  

Inbee Park can become No. 1 if:

She wins AND Lydia Ko finishes in a three-way tie for second or worse.

She finishes 2nd AND Ko finishes in a three-way tie for 11th or worse.***

She finishes in a two-way tie for 2nd AND Ko finishes in 37th or worse ***

Stacy Lewis CANNOT become No. 1 this week regardless of what happens. There are scenarios in which Lewis can move to No. 2 with a win but only a win.

***All multi-way tie situations bring up multiple scenarios. Please check with the LPGA PR staff for clarification.

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“The beauty of it is everybody can enjoy it. It doesn’t matter race, how old, boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. You can all enjoy it at the same time. I think that’s what’s fun about it.” - Pat Hurst, talking about the beauty of the game of golf

“Yeah, my front nine was awesome. Good birdie on 17 to come into the 18th hole. Hit my iron shot a little heavy, but I’ll take any birdies out here when they come. Doesn’t matter how. Scorecard doesn’t have pictures.” - Paula Creamer, talking about her up and down opening round today