Shoprite LPGA Classic 54-hole leader Reid in familiar position

SHOPRITE LPGA CLASSIC 54-HOLE LEADER REID IN FAMILIAR POSITION
This time, she holds a one-shot advantage on the Bay Course at Seaview, A Dolce Hotel, at 15-under par overall, rather than a two-stroke margin.

“We reflected on it a lot,” said Reid, who ended in a tie for fifth at the Cambia Portland Classic. “I spoke to [my psychologist] Howard [Falco] about it quite a lot last week. I’m a pretty quick player and it kind of makes me quick on my swing. I’ll take my time tomorrow, I think. That is basically what we took away.”

Looking to become a Rolex First-Time winner, Reid is trailed closely by a pair of individuals hoping to do the same in Jennifer Kupcho and Jennifer Song. Both competitors sit 14-under overall after each fired a bogey-free 65 with six birdies on moving day in Galloway, N.J. Their 54-hole score of 199 also sets a career-best for each on the LPGA Tour.

Holding down the fort in solo fourth position is 36-hole leader Nasa Hataoka. She managed a 1-under 70 on the afternoon thanks to a closing birdie on the par-5 18th. The 21-year-old is -12 and three back of the lead. She will lead the penultimate pairing off No. 1 tee tomorrow at 10:59 a.m. EDT, joined by Kelly Tan and Ryann O’Toole, another duo both in search of their first LPGA title.

“In today’s round, putts didn’t go in so I couldn’t get into the flow of things, but I didn’t feel like I played that badly ,” said Hataoka, who hopes to join 2010 champion Ai Miyazato as the only Japanese players to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic. “I felt like my speed on the greens was a little off; I was on my line but came up short, so I’ll work on that. I’ll keep playing aggressively and try to make all the birdies.”

Canadian star Brooke Henderson fired a 6-under 65 on moving day to move from a tie for 30th into solo seventh at -10. Six players are six shots back at 9-under overall including most recent LPGA Tour winner, Georgia Hall. Defending champion Lexi Thompson is tied for 22nd with six others at -6.

WITH A WIN

Mel Reid, Jennifer Song, Jennifer Kupcho, Ryann O’Toole and Kelly Tan would all become a Rolex First-Time Winner, the second of the 2020 LPGA Tour season joining Madelene Sagstrom (Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio)

The $195,000 winner’s check would give Reid to $873,941 in career earnings

Kupcho would become the youngest winner on the LPGA Tour in 2020 at 23 years, 4 months and 20 days

Song would become the second LPGA Tour winner in 2020 who played collegiately at the University of Southern California, joining Sophia Popov (AIG Women’s Open)

It would be the first LPGA Tour title for Song in her 220th career start on the LPGA Tour

Nasa Hataoka would earn her fourth career LPGA Tour victory and first since the 2019 Kia Classic

Hataoka would join 2010 champion Ai Miyazato as the only Japanese players to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer 

It would be the first professional win for Tan since the 2019 Florida’s Natural Charity Classic, her maiden win on the Symetra Tour

The $195,000 winner’s check would give O’Toole $2,187,204 in career earnings, making her the 165th player in LPGA Tour history to surpass the $2 million threshold

REID ON THE BRINK (AGAIN) OF FIRST WIN
A three-time Solheim Cup Team Europe member, Mel Reid has now fired under par in nine of her last 10 rounds, and 37 straight holes of bogey-free golf in the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer has her on the brink of her first LPGA Tour victory, once again.

“Hopefully I have left a bit out there for tomorrow,” said Reid, who also held the 54-hole lead at Cambia Portland Classic. “Great opportunity to get it done and going to keep doing the same thing.

“I was pretty disappointed the way I handled Portland. I felt like it was in my hands, really. It’s a little bit different here. I feel like girls are going to still shoot low tomorrow. I’ve got to play well to get my hands on that trophy.”

Reid credits the work she has done with her psychologist Howard Falco as instrumental in her approach to the game both on and off the course. She also realizes the impact that this moment could have on her career.

“I started working with him before the [AIG Women’s] Open, we just clicked,” said Reid, who will head off No. 1 tee tomorrow at 11:10 a.m. EDT. “He’s been very different to any psychologist I’ve ever had. I am a quick player and I can get very, very quick. Too quick. When I’m at home, I don’t even take practice swings. I did that a couple weeks ago in Portland. Howard has understood me very well, quickly.

“It would be life changing, to be an established winner on the LPGA against the best in the world. It changes your career and your life. No matter what anyone can say, you’ve won on the LPGA.”

JENNIFER SQUARED TO TAKE ON FINAL GROUPING TOMORROW
Two bogey-free 65s. Two rounds with six birdies each. Two Jennifers, both looking for their first win on the LPGA Tour.

Jennifer Song and Jennifer Kupcho made the most of moving day at ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer. Both played their way into tomorrow’s final grouping and sit in a tie for second at -14 overall, one shot off Mel Reid’s 54-hole lead.

For Song, this is the second time since the season resumed play that she’ll be chasing the lead from the final group. At the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Song started the last day two shots off the lead, and ultimately ended in a tie for seventh.

“I like to be in contention, but I like to stay behind so I can catch the leaders going into the final round. So I'm exactly where I want to be,” said Song. “It would be awesome to go home with a victory. To be honest, nothing is done until I finish that final putt in the final round so I'm not really thinking about that. I'm just going to focus on my game.”

Kupcho played in Galloway, N.J., for the first time in 2019, her second event as a professional on the LPGA Tour. She finished in a tie for 43rd and by the end of her rookie year, earned three top five finishes including a tie for second result at The Evian Championship. She’s made some adjustments since her last appearance at Seaview, but first and foremost on the agenda for tomorrow is to take care of her body.

“I'm having a little bit of back issues this tournament, so working on that and just going out and playing the best I can,” said Kupcho. “I came out here not knowing if I could play, I was in so much pain. Luckily, I was able to fight through and really focus on making every swing the best that I can. I'm going to just go out and do that tomorrow.”

RYANN O’TOOLE IN THE HUNT FOR HER FIRST LPGA TITLE 
After a 7-under 64 on the first day of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, Ryann O’Toole was a little disappointed in her even-par round on Friday. Finding the positives where she could, O’Toole canceled out three bogeys on the scorecard with seven birdies for a third-round 65 to reach -11 overall, four shots back of lead in Atlantic County.

“I would love to shoot 7-under every round, but I feel like all of us strive for that and it doesn't happen,” said O’Toole. “Just seeing the consistency this week and it wasn't just a fluke the first round feels good. I see consistency as far as irons, giving myself birdie opportunities, starting to putt on my lines. So, yeah, I feel like I'm in a good place. Trying to get into next week as best as I can, keep myself in position.”

O’Toole also has a fluffy friend—her English bulldog Hank—waiting back in her housing, who will be happy to see her no matter any way she scores. It’s the first time she’s brought any one of her four dogs on the road with her since joining the LPGA in 2011, and O’Toole is thrilled to have Hank with her.

“He's been a nice distraction, having a dog is like having a kid on the road. I get done here and I'm like, I got to go rescue him now,” said O’Toole. “I wake up and have to add that to my routine in the morning, take him to the bathroom and walk him a little bit. I feel like it's kind of kept my mind from sitting there in silence just thinking about golf. It's been a nice distraction. That is also a question my parents asked, ‘Is he coming with you every week now?’ I'm like, ‘Oh, man, I don't know.’”