COLORADO SPRINGS — Lisa McCloskey, who started on No. 10 at 7:44 a.m. Thursday, was able to putt out on No. 9 to complete her round just before the stoppage to finish at 5-over 76.
The others in her threesome, Paola Moreno and Sue Kim, did not putt. They will have to be on the ninth green at 7:45 a.m. today, putt out, then wait for the first round to end at about 2:40 p.m.
“I have one putt left, hopefully a one-putt,” said Kim, who played for one semester at the University of Denver last fall. “It is definitely an advantage because I get to rest up more than anything, and people have to finish 36 — try to finish 36 holes in one day, and that’s going to be very hard.”
Also on their final green is the threesome of Kelly Shon, Jin Young Pak and Mallory Blackwelder. They started off the first tee at 7:44 a.m. and were on the 18th green when play was stopped.
Among those who have to come back early today to play their last hole, then wait for the second round, are Michelle Wie, who was in the ninth fairway and is 7-over, and Natalie Gulbis, who is in the 18th fairway at 2-over.
Looking ahead.
A half-dozen or so American players will remain in Colorado for an extra day following the Open to check out Colorado Golf Club in Parker, site of the 2013 Solheim Cup.
Former LPGA player Rosie Jones, captain of the 2011 U.S. Solheim Cup team, is expected to be joined at Colorado Golf Club on Monday by Wie, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel, Juli Inkster, Angela Stanford and perhaps others.
The Solheim Cup is a biennial competition between women’s teams representing the top U.S.- born players on the LPGA Tour and a team from the European Tour. This year’s event will be held Sept. 23-25 at Killeen Castle, Ireland. Dates at the Parker club are Aug. 16-18, 2013.
Colorado Golf Club hosted the 2010 Senior PGA Championship, won by Tom Lehman. The club had financial problems, and construction of its clubhouse was not completed. The club recently was purchased by its members.
“It’s been a rough couple of years, but the club is strong now and we will have the clubhouse finished (prior to the 2013 Solheim Cup),” said club spokesman Tom Ferrell at the Open. “I’m just glad the Solheim Cup stuck with us.”
Pointing the way.
Similar to Babe Ruth pointing toward the stands prior to hitting a home run, Cristie Kerr was spotted Thursday raising her club and pointing toward her target before approach shots, evidently a pre-shot routine that helps the former world’s top-ranked player with alignment.
Growing the game.
The USGA is always looking for ways to attract new participants, especially young ones, and here’s one for the Open: A sign at the entrance of spectator bleachers states that the front row is reserved for youths 17 and under.
Future Opens.
Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis., will host the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open. Other future sites already selected are Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., for 2013; Pinehurst (N.C.) No. 2 for 2014; and Lancaster (Pa.) Country Club for 2015.
David Krause and Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
