GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. – There’s no doubt the future of the LPGA should be some of its finest years. Annika Sorenstam is still in her prime with a list of challengers emerging – including Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Lorena Ochoa and someday soon Michelle Wie. Not be ignored is the parade of talent coming from Korea.
But there’s still plenty of golf left in the so-called old guard, specifically players like 44-year-old Juli Inkster and 41-year-old Laura Davies, who are using the 2005 ShopRite LPGA Classic to remind us they aren’t ceremonial players just yet.
Inkster, a Hall of Famer, will be playing in the final group with Sorenstam, another Hall of Famer, in today’s final round at the Bay Course of the Seaview Marriott Resort and Spa. The two are tied for the 36-hole lead at 10-under-par after Inkster shot a 4-under 67 yesterday and Sorenstam stamped a 6-under par 65.
One shot back is Davies, who took advantage of the soft greens and calmer weather conditions to fire a tournament record 9-under-par 62. Also within striking distance is Pat Hurst, who at 7-under will play in the next-to-last group with Davies. With weather conditions expected to be perfect, it could turn into a shoot out.
“There’s going to be birdies out there,” said Sorenstam, who will be looking for her third victory in the Classic and the fifth win in her last seven starts this year. “I have to play aggressive. I just hope to make a few putts. It’s going to be exciting for everyone.”
Davies provided much of the excitement yesterday after a morning mist cleared and the course began to dry after a day-long rain on Friday. The winner of four major championships and 66 tournaments world wide, Davies was sniffing a 59 after shooting a 6-under-par 30 on the front nine.
Birdies at the par-3 11th and the par-4 15th left her needing to finish eagle, birdie, birdie for the 59. But she settled for another birdie on the par-5 16th and closed out with two routine pars, sending her into today’s final round looking for one of the two points she needs to qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame.
“It’s nice to have a chance to win,” Davies said. “If I don’t shoot 7-under [today] I’m not going to get a look in. That’s what we’ll try to do.”
Inkster owned a two-stroke lead after Friday’s first round and yesterday made three consecutive birdies beginning at the par-4 fourth hole to climb to 8 under. Six more pars were followed by a 12-foot putt for birdie on the par-3 13th. She added her final birdie on the par-4 17th.
Inkster has been tinkering with her swing after a winless 2004. “The last year I’ve struggled with my golf swing and I really feel like I’m on the right track of what I need to do,” Inkster said. “It’s hard to win when you don’t feel like your swing is where it should be.”
Inkster had a four-stroke lead when she putted out on the 18th green, but a Sorenstam caught her at 10 under with five birdies on the back nine, including a 5-foot putt for birdie at the par-5 18th.
“I look forward to playing with Juli,” Sorenstam said. “I’m going to go out and play my own game and after three or four holes see how things are going. If they’re making birdies, I’ll have to play more aggressive. Anything can happen. Whoever is hot, you want to watch out for that person.”
