Date: August 09, 2014
Author: ALPG

Kirk five back in Michigan

Queenslander Katherine Kirk remains entrenched in the top 10 heading into the week-end of the Meijer LPGA Classic presented by Kraft.

Kirk carded a second round of one-under-par 70 on the traditional Blythefield Country Club layout in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to sit at five under-under-par and in tie for fifth position.

Kirk will be chasing former World No.1 Inbee Park, who leads after consecutive rounds of 66 at 10-under. She holds a one stroke lead over Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, who fired one of the low rounds of the day, 64, to be outright second at nine-under. South Koreans dominate the top four places, with Mirim Lee (64) at eight-under, with Amy Yang (67) a further shot back.

The Australian shares fifth position with four other players including Rolex World No.2 Lydia Ko. After her round Kirk mentioned how proud she was to represent her country in the International Crown:

“It was such an honour to play for Australia and to be in that team environment certainly got your juices going, it definitely inspired me and got me thinking about the Olympics in 2016.”

Her plan for the week-end is, “I got to figure out my driver, but everything else is going pretty well, so I will see what happens.”

Fellow Queenslander Karrie Webb posted a 70 to be at one-under-par and tied for 25th. Victorian Lindsey Wright, could not reproduce her opening round form and signed for a 75 to finish at two-over-par and finished right on the cut number.

71 players will contest the week-end. Unfortunately for Sarah Kemp (69) and Julia Boland (73) they both finished at three over and missed the weekend by one shot. It wasn’t a great week for Sarah Jane Smith and Stacey Keating as they finished at five-over and six-over respectively. At the moment, all four players are in next week’s major, so they can start preparing for the Wegmans LPGA Championship.