“This is a good learning experience, and I’m kind of excited to learn from it and just see what it’s like out here”, Anderson said.
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Anderson had never led a round during her two-year LPGA Tour career. “It started at local tournaments, then to national amateur tournaments, then collegiate, and now I’ve won a couple of professional events, but this is a whole other ballgame”.
Henderson, who qualified on Monday with a 68, also offered that course familiarity played a part in her strong showing. “I really like the layout, because it sets up well for me”.
Henderson teed off at 8:43 a.m., and avoided the eventual near 90-degree temperature.
Anderson had a shaky start to her round Thursday as she missed the first three greens, but salvaged par each time, including with a long putt on the third.
The smooth play did not extend throughout her group, though, as recent Beaverton High graduate and Arizona commit Gigi Stoll finished at 7-over 79, placing her tied for last in the 144-player field.
Since turning pro in 2013, Anderson has had an up-and-down two years, missing 11 of 20 cuts in 2014, and five of 15 this year. “I’ve been thinking about it every single day”. “It was a hard round”. “But this week, she’s found comfort from the fact that the best finish of her career came in the Portland Classic, a tie for ninth in 2013, and she has been staying with friends, including a former assistant athletic director at NSU”. 13, 14 and 17.
“I hit it great and I putted well”, Pace said. “I’ve been hitting it really well”.
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The Wanna Be A Champion Academy player is one stroke behind world number two, Lydia Ko, and one stroke ahead of defending champion Austin Ernst, who opened with an even par 72.
