Miyajima makes debut
Shayna Miyajima was admittedly nervous before taking her first swing in an LPGA event.
She’d spent time on the Futures Tour, but didn’t earn a tee time in an LPGA tournament before Sunday’s qualifier for the Lotte Championship. She ended up with a 6-over-par 78 in the first round, but savored the chance to play in the event.
“I just don’t think it was my day today,” Miyajima said. “I had fun though. … I’m very appreciative for everything.”
Miyajima won the 1998 state championship while at Baldwin and played her college golf at San Diego State. She’s now based in San Diego, where she works at a country club.
She attempted to qualify for events earlier this season and finally got her chance in the LPGA’s return to Hawaii.
“To me that’s an accomplishment,” Miyajima said. “Not many people can say they Monday qualified for the LPGA.”
Only 18 shoot under par
The 18 players that shot under par in the first round represent eight countries.
There are five Americans — Beth Bader, Angela Stanford, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome and Cristie Kerr — in the top six.
Kono gets sponsor
Kaanapali will sponsor Hawaii’s Stephanie Kono in her rookie year on the LPGA Tour. Kono will represent Kaanapali and be featured in resort promotions and events. She is also wearing the resort logo on her apparel and golf bag.
“Stephanie’s strong character makes her an outstanding ambassador for Kaanapali and Hawaii golf,” Kaanapali general manager Ed Kageyama said.
Kageyama is also the girls golf coach at Punahou, where Kono went to school. She qualified for the tour in December after three All-American seasons at UCLA.
“I’m thrilled Kaanapali is a sponsor for my rookie season on the LPGA Tour,” Kono said. “I will do my best to represent Kaanapali very well.” Kono’s team won Tuesday’s pro-am with a score of 58. Her amateur partners were Doug Spencer, Kendall Char, Henry Katsuda and Mike Wo. Kono shot 79 on Wednesday.
Tseng inspires Shin
Top-ranked Yani Tseng has 15 victories worldwide in the past 15 months. The 23-year-old is the youngest player — male or female — to win five major championships and the second youngest to win 15 tournaments on the LPGA, behind only Nancy Lopez.
Jiyai Shin, who turns 24 in 10 days, has been there, to some extent, and would like to get back. Shin was the 2009 Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year — over somebody named Michelle Wie — and was ranked No. 1 in the world for 16 weeks the following year.
She has won eight times on the LPGA tour. But her last victory was the 2010 Mizuno Classic and, despite seven top 10s last year and three more already this year, she can’t seem to catch up to Tseng.
“When I see her, on the face she has a lot of the confidence. In the swing, too,” Shin says. “And then she has a great feeling, like good control with the ball. We know how she’s strong at the moment, but we are also training so hard. So I think we get more inspired from her.”
Tseng’s worst finish this year is eighth, Shin’s is 26th.
Extended air time
The Golf Channel has extended its live coverage for the LPGA Lotte Championship.
The tournament was originally scheduled to run 2 hours each of the first three days and three hours Saturday. It went 4 hours Wednesday and will have at least 3 hours of live coverage each of the final three days. It is scheduled from 12:30-3:30 p.m. today and Friday, and 1-4 p.m. for the final round.
