After putting four productive rounds together at the Founders, Stephanie Meadow is hoping to keep the foot down in sunny California.
Stephanie Meadow returns to action this week hoping to keep the momentum going after landing a top-40 finish at the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup in Phoenix.
The Jordanstown professional endured a difficult final day less than an hour from her Arizona home on Sunday having played superbly well in a week where the scoring was hot at Wildfire Country Club.
Looking odds on for a top-20 finish entering the final day, Meadow started off well with three birdies in her opening four holes before a double bogey on the 5th knocked her back on her heels. She retained her composure and bounced back with a birdie on nine before four bogeys between the 10th and 14th put paid to any hopes of a top-20.
Meadow dug deep to birdie 16 and 18 but her level-par 72 dropped her down to T40 on 10-under par, four shots outside the top-20.“It was really nice to get some solid rounds under my belt,” reflected Meadow. “I made a lot of great swings so I have a lot of confidence going forward.
“Obviously it wasn’t the back 9 that I wanted but I’m really proud that I birdied 16 and 18 and I hopefully I can keep that momentum going this week in Carlsbad.”Indeed, the beauty of this game is that one doesn’t have to wait too long for the next opportunity to come knocking with Meadow returning to the fray this week in sunny California for the Kia Classic, which celebrates its tenth year and returns to Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad.
“I really enjoy the course this week and it’s always fun to be in California,” added Meadow, who this time last year recaptured that winning feeling at the Symetra Tour’s IOA Championship.
“I hit the ball really nicely at the Founders and my short game was good so there’s nothing I’m changing for this week. I’m just continuing to work on the same things and hopefully the improvements will keep coming.”
The Kia Classic is one of the LPGA Tour’s strongest fields, with 88 players out of the 144-strong line-up representing 27 countries outside of the United States. It will be a tournament where Meadow can once again measure herself against the best of them with 45 of the top-50 players on the 2018 Official Money List in action while 20 of the top-25 players on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings also tee up, including nine of the top-10 players in the world. Let’s hope she can keep the momentum going in California.
Leave a comment