09 Oct 2021 | Professional golf |
Lee and Jones ready for the weekend
by Dane Heverin
Minjee Lee has moved into the top ten at the LPGA's Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey, while Matt Jones kept in touch with the leaders in testing conditions at the PGA Tour's Shriners Children's Open in Las Vegas.
Fresh off back-to-back runner-up finishes, Lee went one shot better than her opening round with a three-under par round of 67 to be T9 and five shots behind leader Jin Young Ko.
The Evian Championship winner has been a picture of consistency in recent months and she said that she has been able to maintain her momentum by staying present and having a clear mind on the golf course.
"I think when I'm on the golf course I just try to stay really patient and just, like I say all the time, just one shot at a time, but it's actually true. I take every shot at a time," Lee said.
"I think that pretty much keeps me in the moment all the time. So I just try not get ahead of myself and just be present.
"You know, on the golf course I don't really have too many thoughts. I just think it becomes too routine. I'm not as sharp on the decisions that I make. Probably just the execution of how I hit it.
"So that's probably what I do when I get a little, you know, up in the clouds."
Fellow Australians Su Oh and Hannah Green had their second rounds interrupted by weather with both T28 at two-under par.
In Las Vegas, a refreshed Jones shot a four-under par 67 in the second round to sit T6 at eleven-under par and three shots behind leader Sungjae Im.
The Sydneysider enjoyed three weeks off leading into the Shriners Children's Open and it has freed him up.
"I didn't have many expectations this week, but it's a great start and I'll go do a little bit of work, try and tidy a couple of things up, and hopefully have a good weekend," Jones said.
After playing in pleasant afternoon conditions in round one, windy and wet conditions set in that are quite foreign to TPC Summerlin.
"It wasn't the easiest day out there with the rain, a little bit of breeze, but just managed the golf course, didn't try to make too many mistakes, had a bogey but that's going to happen out here," he said.
"I played really nicely yesterday. I managed the golf course really well. I wasn't too aggressive. I wasn't too conservative and just gave myself putts.
"Today was much the same way. Just trying to enjoy myself. First event back. Just relax and just see what happens."
Meanwhile, Marc Leishman (T17) made it consecutive four-under par rounds of 67 and Cam Davis (T30) moved to seven-under for the tournament with a three-under par round of 68.
Adam Scott also shot a second-round 67 to sneak above the cut line at five-under par.