The Aussie has experienced an almost year-long trend of firing low scores with one bad round per tournament costing her the chance to genuinely contend for a third LPGA Tour title, and after an early bogey at the site of her 2019 victory, Green needed to right the ship.
“I didn’t get off to the best start. I actually bogeyed the 3rd hole today and then I bounced back and made a nice putt on the next hole,” Green said.
That nice next putt was for a birdie at the par-4, a feat she repeated seven more times during the round only to spoil the hot run of scoring with a bogey at the par-4 last to sign for a six-under 66 to sit alone in second one stroke back of Japan’s Ayako Uehara.
“Just keep the momentum,” she said of her approach to the rest of the event. “Unfortunately made a bogey on the last, but don’t want to dwell on that. I guess I didn’t hit a great shot, but I also got unlucky where I finished up.
“I think that’s part of the reason why I’m so happy to be out on the golf course. I haven’t played four tournaments in a row in a while, but I wouldn’t miss this stop for anything.” – Hannah Green.
“Only missed two greens today, so I can’t be too down on myself. Yeah, just keep giving myself opportunities, and yeah, hopefully continue to hole those putts.”
Playing in Green’s group, World No.2 Nelly Korda is part of a four-way tie for third one back at five-under, with two-time Portland Classic winner Brooke Henderson another shot further back.
Green will be hoping to join Henderson as a dual champion here, and has a definite pep in her step this week playing her fourth consecutive tournament before she returns home to Western Australia. Perhaps with some extra luggage in the form of a trophy.
“I think that’s part of the reason why I’m so happy to be out on the golf course,” she said. “I haven’t played four tournaments in a row in a while, but I wouldn’t miss this stop for anything.”
Sarah Kemp is in a share of 13th on three-under, and was the only other Aussie outside Green to break par with Steph Kyriacou at even, Karis Davidson (+1), Sarah Jane Smith (+3), amateur Mackensie Toole (+5) and Su Oh (+6).
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