25 Oct 2020 | Professional golf |
Kirk pushing for LPGA title
by Martin Blake
Katherine Kirk is in position to challenge for a win on the LPGA Tour at the Drive On Championship in Georgia in tomorrow’s final round.
Kirk, the 38-year-old veteran of the tour, is having a fine season and she continued her form with a two-under-par 70 today at Reynolds Lake Oconee.
She will start the final round in fifth place at nine under and just four shots from the lead held by American Ally McDonald.
After a steady start – eight consecutive pars – Kirk rolled in birdie putts at the ninth, 11th, 16th (from long range) and the 18th to pick up the pace. “I guess that's the beauty of being a veteran player is that I know to be patient and just kind of grind it out,” she said afterward.
The Australian, a 17-year LPGA player, has had three top-10 finishes since the tour resumed this season after the Covid-19 enforced break.
“I’ve got to give my coaches credit, Dana Dahlquist out in California and Josh Cook,” she said. “I mean, I honestly wouldn't be here without them. 2015 and '16 were rough years for me and I almost gave the game up, so full credit to them.
“They this got me on the right track. Mechanically I was just going down the wrong path Thankfully, yeah, got some good instruction and it's just taken a little while to kind of implement. And I'm still not there. That is the crazy part.
“They're going, ‘Hey, we're asking for a foot but we're okay with an inch’. Golf is just goofy like that. Yeah, always trying to exaggerate and get better, always learning. So I’m thankful that I've got a good team of people that are patient with me and supported me through the ups and downs.”
Kirk said she gave herself an opportunity tomorrow. “Obviously I've got to get off to a good start if I'm going to have a chance. Ally is playing great. I'm super happy for her. Obviously, yeah, she's going to carry some good confidence into tomorrow and probably be hard to beat.
“But I think any time you're within six shots you've got a small chance. It'll take, like I said, a good start and pedal to the metal.”
Hannah Green is the next-best Australian at six under par, tied-13th after a fine 68 today.