Following the birth of her son Ajeo in April 2018, Gerina Piller has trained and worked to get back into golf shape and form. The three-time Solheim Cup Team USA member has played the weekend 22 times in 37 starts since returning from maternity leave at the 2019 HSBC Women’s World Championship with a pair of top-10s over that span.
Perhaps the “overlooked” Texan among a group of seven competing in their home state this week at the 75th U.S. Women’s Open, Piller showcased today why she has been a key Solheim Cup contributor and a steady competitor on the LPGA Tour over the past decade (38 career top-10 performances). Her 2-under 69 on the Jackrabbit Course at Champions Golf Club this afternoon has Piller in a tie for sixth after 18 holes.
“It really confirms and really helps me believe that what I have and how I swing the club is good enough,” said Piller, who recorded four birdies. “After coming back from having a baby, I know my body has changed and my swing has changed, and it has taken me a while to kind of get comfortable in that. I am 35 years old, there's no need to reinvent the wheel. Really trying to focus on swinging my swing.”
Piller will look to continue playing her game in round two tomorrow off No. 10 tee on the Cypress Creek Course at 9:06 a.m. CT.
PLAYER NOTES
Rolex Rankings No. 68 Amy Olson (67)
- Olson’s 67 is her lowest career round at the U.S. Women’s Open; her previous best was a 69 in the first round in 2011 at The Broadmoor, when she was a junior at North Dakota State University. She hit eight of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
- Olson is in her seventh year on the LPGA Tour; her best finish is second at the 2018 Evian Championship and the 2020 ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
- This is Olson’s 16th event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is second at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open
- This is Olson’s fourth appearance in the U.S. Women’s Open; her best finish is a tie for 52nd in 2016 at CordeValle
- Olson is a 2013 graduate of North Dakota State University, with a degree in Accounting; she is also a Certified Public Accountant
- While at North Dakota State, she broke the NCAA record for most career victories with 20, a mark previously held by Juli Inkster, and was a First-Team Capital One Academic All-America selection in 2012 and 2013
Rolex Rankings No. 16 Hinako Shibuno (68)
- She hit 12 of 14 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 30 putts
- Shibuno is in her second year on the JLPGA Tour; in 2019, she won the AIG Women’s Open, and has four career victories on the JLPGA
- This is Shibuno’s first appearance in the U.S. Women’s Open
- This is Shibuno’s seventh event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for 24th at the Cambia Portland Classic, which was just her second competition ever in the United States following the previous week’s ANA Inspiration
Rolex Rankings No. 48 Moriya Jutanugarn (68)
- Jutanugarn’s 68 is her lowest career round at the U.S. Women’s Open; her previous best was a 69 on three occasions, most recently in the fourth round in 2017 at Trump National Golf Club (Bedminster)
- She hit nine of 14 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
- Jutanugarn is in her eighth year on the LPGA Tour; she won the 2018 HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA Open and has four runner-up finishes
- This is Jutanugarn’s 12th event of the 2020 LPGA Tour season; her best finish is a tie for third at the Cambia Portland Classic
- This is Jutanugarn’s ninth appearance in the U.S. Women’s Open; her best finish is a tie for 15th in 2017 a Trump National Golf Club (Bedminster)
Rolex Rankings No. 94 A Lim Kim (68)
- She hit seven of 14 fairways and 11 of 18 greens, with 25 putts
- Kim is a member of the KLPGA Tour, where she has two career victories
- This is Kim’s first appearance in the U.S. Women’s Open and her third appearance in any LPGA Tour event, joining the 2019 BMW Ladies Championship and the 2018 LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship
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