Front row L-R: Quartararo, Marquez and Dovizioso
Nagashima takes maiden pole, Binder puts KTM in second and Chantra claims thirdMoto2™ qualifying at the Red Bull Ring sets up a race to remember

Front row L-R: Binder, Nagashima and Chantra
Fenati fires from Q1 to Moto3™ poleThe Italian takes pole for the first time since the 2017 British Grand Prix

Session fastest before penalties L-R: Sasaki, Fenati and MasiaQuartararo shone on Saturday to take secondDovizioso qualified where he needed to – the front row

The Thai star, who was fighting to extend his run in the PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs, slumped to a third round 5-over 76, which included a quintuple nine on his last hole to all but ensure an end to his 2018-19 season this weekend.

Entering the first of three Playoffs event in 76^th place on the FedExCup points list, Kiradech needed to finish 27^th or better at Liberty National Golf Club to advance into next week’s BMW Championship, which is limited to the top-70 players.

A lingering right knee injury, suffered in April, has not helped matters as Kiradech exchanged two birdies against as many bogeys through 13 holes before signing for a nine after he lost his ball off the tee and then needed three putts on the 18^th hole.

“Since that day three months ago, I have an injury on the right knee. Tomorrow will be the last day of my season on the PGA TOUR. I will try to fight on even if I have to be carried off the course,” Kiradech said on social media.

The 30-year-old Asian star will begin the final round in T79 with rounds of 67, 73 and 76 putting him on 5-over 216. American Patrick Reed leads THE NORTHERN TRUST by one shot from Abraham Ancer of Mexico with his 199 total.

2018 champion Ariya Jutanugarn’s older sister, Moriya, fired a 4-under par 67 on Saturday in North Berwick, Scotland to take a one-stroke lead into the final round over Jeongeun Lee6 and Mi Jung Hur.

Through the first three rounds Moriya Jutanugarn has hit 48 of 54 greens in regulation, but she said the key for her is to be patient and keep doing what she’s doing. “I’m just trying to play my game and have fun out there,” she said. “Don’t really focus on anything.”

Moriya became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2018 HUGEL-JTBC LA Open and on Saturday she said she would love to follow in her sister’s footsteps and capture a win in Scotland. “Well, it would be, of course, like any win, you always feel great with it and especially like Scotland is Home of Golf, of course.”

On Friday, Hur needed just 24 putts to tie the 18-hole tournament record with a second-round 62. While the putts didn’t drop as easily for her during the third round, needing 34 putts, she will be trying for her first LPGA victory in five years by avoiding thinking about the outcome on Sunday.

“I just want to enjoy my game,” Hur said. “Like I don’t want to get stress from my game because this is my 11th year on the Tour, and never helps when you get stress from your game. I’m just going to enjoy my day and talking with a lot of things with my caddie.”

Lee6 has been consistently in contention during her rookie season, with 11 top-16 finishes including a major win at the U.S. Women’s Open. Playing for the first time in her career on a links style course, at The Renaissance Club, Lee6 said she was surprised with how easy she’s settled in.

“This is my first time, and I thought it would be really hard, but actually my shots and my putting strokes were pretty good,” Lee6 said after a third-round 66. “So that’s why I’ve been starting playing a lot better than before. But the most part I’m worried about is tomorrow’s weather, because it seems like the forecast, it’s going to rain all day. So we’ll see how that goes.”

2017 champion Mi Hyang Lee is in solo fourth at -12, while Scotland’s Carly Booth, Ariya Jutanugarn, Jane Park and Chella Choi are tied for fifth at 10-under par heading into Sunday’s final round.

2018 champion Ariya said that Moriya, even though she’s holding the 54-hole lead, will be in charge of cooking the dinner Saturday night and Moriya joked, “I would never want to try her [Ariya’s] food.”

WITH A WIN

Moriya Jutanugarn would earn her second career LPGA title joining the 2018 HUGEL-JTBC LA Open

Moriya Jutanugarn would join Jasmine Suwannapura and Ariya Jutanugarn as the only Thai players with more than one LPGA Tour victory

Moriya Jutanugarn would earn $225,000, and would project to move from 21st to 12th on the Season Money List with $873,356, and from 76th to 73rd on the LPGA All-Time Career Money List with $4,489,944

Mi Jung Hur or Mi Hyang Lee would become the seventh different 2019 winner from the Republic of Korea

Jeongeun Lee6 would join Jin Young Ko (3), Sung Hyun Park (2), Sei Young Kim (2) and Brooke Henderson (2) as players with multiple wins in 2019

Carly Booth would join Catriona Matthew (4), Janice Moodie (2) and Kathryn Imrie (1) as LPGA winners from Scotland

TEAM EUROPE PROJECTIONS

Team Europe Captain Catriona Matthew will name her four picks for the 2019 Solheim Cup on Monday at The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland, the day after the completion of the final qualification event, the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club.

The European team consists of the top three from the LET Solheim Cup points list, followed by the next five from the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and four captain’s picks.

Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, who is not playing at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, has locked in her position as one of the qualifiers from the LET Solheim Cup points list. Caroline Hedwall and Anne van Dam currently hold the remaining two spots, but it will depend on their finish in Scotland this week with a few other players in the mix.

Georgia Hall, Charley Hull and Azahara Munoz are all confirmed to make the team based on their positions on the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings. Projections showCaroline Masson, Anna Nordqvist and Celine Boutier have the best chance for the final two Rolex Rankings spots depending on their finishes in Scotland.

Here’s how a few players on the bubble for Team Europe sit heading into the final round in Scotland: Carly Booth (T5, -10), Anne van Dam (T5, -10), Anna Nordqvist (T14, -8), Caroline Hedwall (T32, -4), Madelene Sagstrom (T32, -4) and Celine Boutier (T41, -3).

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 23 Moriya Jutanugarn (64-66-67)

• She hit 11 of 13 fairways and 15 of 18 greens, with 28 putts
• Jutanugarn is in her seventh year on the LPGA; she became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2018 HUGEL-JTBC LA Open
• This is Jutanugarn’s 20th event of the 2019 LPGA season; she has made 19 cuts with a best finish of T3 at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational where she teamed up with her sister Ariya
• She is competing in her third Ladies Scottish Open (since it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA); with a T35 finish in 2018

Rolex Rankings No. 79 Mi Jung Hur (66-62-70)

• She hit 10 of 13 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 34 putts
• Hur is in her 11th year on the LPGA; she has two career victories at the 2014 Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic and the 2009 Cambia Portland Classic
• This is Hur’s 15th event of the 2019 LPGA season; she has made 13 cuts with a best finish of T6 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
• Hur is competing in her third Ladies Scottish Open (since it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA); with a runner-up finish in 2017

Rolex Rankings No. 9 Jeongeun Lee6 (67-65-66)

• She hit nine of 13 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• Lee6 is a 2019 LPGA Tour rookie; she earned her Membership by taking medalist honors at the 2018 LPGA Q Series
• Lee6 became a Rolex First-Time Winner at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open
• This is Lee6’s 17th event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; along with her major win she has six additional top-10 finishes
• She uses a 6 at the end of her last name as she is the sixth player named Jeongeun Lee6 in KLPGA history; her fan club in Korea is called “Lucky 6”
• Lee6 is also a member of the KLPGA Tour, where she has six career victories
• Lee6 currently leads the Rolex Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year standings with 1,065 points

Rolex Rankings No. 38 Mi Hyang Lee (63-70-68)

• She hit seven of 13 fairways and 14 of 18 greens, with 29 putts
• Lee is in her eighth year on the LPGA; she has two career wins at the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open and the 2014 Mizuno Classic
• This is Lee’s 20th event of the 2019 LPGA season; she has made 17 cuts with a runner-up finish at the ANA Inspiration

QUICK HITS

• Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn enters the final round tied for fifth, six shots behind her sister Moriya
• Three players were bogey-free in the third round: Carly Booth, Minjee Lee and Su Oh
• Rolex Rankings Projections show that no player can overtake No. 1 Jin Young Ko and No. 2 Sung Hyun Park this week

The 30-year-old Asian star, who opened with a 67 on Thursday, carded a birdie against a bogey and double bogey at Liberty National Golf Club to slip to T61 with his two day total of 2-under 140.

American star Dustin Johnson shot a 67 to seize the halfway lead by one shot on 130, with  Jordan Spieth trailing in second place in the first of three Playoffs event which the FedExCup champion will earn a US$15 million payday.

Playing in his first full season on the PGA TOUR, Kiradech entered the week in 76^thplace on the FedExCup points list and needs to finish in a projected 27^th place this week to break into the top-70 and qualify for next week’s BMW Championship in Chicago.

After a strong start in the first round, the burly Thai struggled to cope in tougher windy conditions in his afternoon round and could have benefited with a behaving putter as he  missed numerous opportunities.

“The golf course was much more difficult. When the winds pick up, it’s totally a different  course here. I hit a lot of good shots but the putts didn’t want to drop, like in the last two holes where I left it like inches to the cup,” said Kiradech.

“I’ve still got a chance in the last two days to climb up the leaderboard and my aim is to finish top-25. The way I’m playing, I still have a chance. I know what I need to do and it depends on whether I can play my own game and if my body is strong enough to play the  last two rounds. My knee is getting worse every day but I just need to keep fighting.”

Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) ended Day 1 of the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich in P1 overall, but the reigning Champion was run close. Maverick Viñales (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) got within just 0.066 of the number 93, with FP1’s fastest man, Andrea Dovizioso (Ducati Team), ending the day third overall. The Italian failed to improve his laptime due to a late tip off, but his FP1 fastest keeps him in P3 at the venue where he won in 2017.

Marquez came out the blocks all guns blazing at the start of FP2 as he sported a soft rear tyre, and immediately the number 93 was able to better his time from the morning session and went to the top of the combined standings, pushing FP1 pacesetter Dovizioso down to P2. Danilo Petrucci (Ducati Team) was also going well in the opening stages of FP2 too, after the Italian had a quiet FP1 and lingered down in P14 ahead of the afternoon’s running.

As so often happens, however, it all came down to a frantic last 10 minutes. The day was sunny, hot and, potentially, quite different to what may greet the grid on Saturday – meaning it was weapons free in a bid to take a provisional place in Q2. Dovizioso was the first who looked under threat as he uncharacteristically crashed at Turn 3 just after setting a red first sector. Would he keep the place or could his rivals leap up the timesheets?

One of the big improvers was Takaaki Nakagami, the LCR Honda Idemitsu rider having finished FP1 in ninth and finding time in the afternoon. First Nakagami went to P5 overall but on the next lap, the Honda man shot to P3 on the combined times, second in FP2. Viñales, third fastest in FP1, was also ramping his pace up and sure enough, the Yamaha man went second quickest – just 0.066 behind Marquez’ early session time. Marquez, Viñales and Nakagami would remain the quickest of the session, with ‘DesmoDovi’ slotting into third overall.

Behind Nakagami was a familiar face at the front: Fabio Quartararo (Petronas Yamaha SRT). The Frenchman was within a tenth of the Japanese rider ahead of him and finished the day in an impressive fifth overall, just ahead of a key rival: Jack Miller (Pramac Racing). The Australian flipped his formbook at the venue to complete the top six.

Miguel Oliveira (Red Bull KTM Tech 3), meanwhile, had a stunning Friday. The Portuguese rookie built on his 10th place in FP1 to move up to seventh on the combined standings, fastest KTM on the Austrian factory’s home turf – just 0.018 off Miller and 0.004 ahead of Petrucci by the end of play. Cal Crutchlow (LCR Honda Castrol) was equally close in an incredibly tight gaggle of riders, 0.006 off Oliveira, and he moved up into ninth overall on his last flying lap despite finishing outside the top 10 in FP1.

The man who completed those who’ll be heading through to Q2 should the rain come down was Pol Espargaro (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who made it two KTMs in the top ten on home turf. And the Austrian factory achieved that at the expense of some key contenders: Valentino Rossi (Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP) was P11 by mere thousandths and will be hoping for a dry FP3 on Saturday to improve his time, and Alex Rins (Team Suzuki Ecstar) was just behind the ‘Doctor’ looking for the same. Will the two be heading head to head in Q1?

See what Saturday brings, how the skies dawn and how the grid shuffles in FP3 at 9:55 (GMT+2), before qualifying then begins at 14:10 to decide the grid.

Friday’s fastest:1 – Marc Marquez (SPA – Honda) 1’23.916

2 – Maverick Viñales (SPA – Yamaha) +0.066

3 – Andrea Dovizioso (ITA – Ducati) +0.117

4 – Takaaki Nakagami* (JPN – Honda) +0.155

5 – Fabio Quartararo* (FRA – Yamaha) +0.237

*Independent Team rider

Binder pulls the pin on home turfSouth African leads Nagashima and Lüthi on a tough day for MarquezRed Bull KTM Ajo’s Brad Binder has given Austrian factory KTM Friday honours in the Moto2™ class after setting a 1:29.029 in FP2 at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, the South African deposing Tetsuta Nagashima (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team) on his final flying lap. Second in the Championship, Tom Lüthi (Dynavolt Intact GP) completes a top three covered by just 0.118.

The sun was shining as temperatures soared in Spielberg, but that meant improving FP1 times came a little difficult. Championship leader Alex Marquez (EG 0,0 Marc VDS) was the early pacesetter in FP2 after the Spaniard had completed the opening Free Practice session down in ninth place, but he wouldn’t stay at the summit for long. Binder, fourth quickest in FP1, soon found himself at the top of the timesheets in FP2, but Jorge Navarro (Beta Tools Speed Up) and Jorge Martin (Red Bull KTM Ajo) were the only riders to go fastest than their FP1 times halfway through the session. Soon enough though, the reigning Moto3™ World Champion was second in FP2 behind teammate Binder.

Nagashima and Lüthi were about to move the goalposts, however, as they took over at the top in the session and on the combined times as the first big movers from FP1. Other riders like Luca Marini (Sky Racing Team VR46) were improving as personal best overall times started to file in, but Binder was setting overall best sectors. With the chequered flag about to drop, the South African came across the line to go 0.090 faster than Nagashima, but the session did end with MotoGP™-bound Binder pulling off the track at Turn 3 with a mechanical issue.

Behind the top three Navarro ended Friday in fourth place, the Spaniard setting his best time on his penultimate lap to improve by four places from FP1, with Czech GP podium finisher Enea Bastianini (Italtrans Racing Team) in P5 and the rookie just 0.187 adrift of Binder. Thanks to their FP1 times, Friday morning pacesetter Augusto Fernandez (FlexBox HP 40) sits sixth ahead of Iker Lecuona (American Racing KTM), a crasher in FP1, and Marcel Schrötter (Dynavolt Intact GP) – a crasher in both the morning and afternoon. Marini improved his time to sit ninth on the combined times.

Somkiat Chantra (Idemitsu Honda Team Asia) drastically jumped up the timesheets from P22 in the morning to P10 at the end of Friday, impressively completing the top ten ahead of Martin, Mattia Pasini (Tasca Racing Scuderia Moto2), Lorenzo Baldassarri (Flexbox HP40) and Remy Gardner (ONEXOX TKKR SAG Team).

Championship leader Marquez, meanwhile, couldn’t find improvements in the afternoon as he finished down in P15 on the combined times, slipping from P9 in FP1. The Spaniard will have to find some speed on Saturday morning if he wants to climb into the top 14 to progress straight into Q2 – but it won’t be that simple. Riders like teammate Xavi Vierge, Nicolo Bulega (Sky Racing Team VR46) – who both slip outside top 14 places in Q1 – and Sam Lowes (Federal Oil Gresini Moto2) all currently sit just off the top 14 spots, so Moto2™ FP3 looks set to be an intriguing session…and if it’s wet, everything will be on the line in Q1.

Will the skies stay dry for the third session of the weekend? FP3 goes green at 10:55 local time (GMT+2) before qualifying from 15:05.

Friday’s fastest:1 – Brad Binder (RSA – KTM) 1’29.029

2 – Tetsuta Nagashima (JPN – Kalex) +0.090

3 – Tom Lüthi (SWI – Kalex) +0.118

4 – Jorge Navarro (SPA – Speed Up) +0.133

5 – Enea Bastianini (ITA – Kalex) +0.187

Vietti, McPhee and Suzuki within half a tenth on FridayJust 0.053 covers the three men at the top of the combined timesheets after Day 1Sky Racing Team VR46’s Celestino Vietti laid down the marker on Friday at the myWorld Motorrad Grand Prix von Österreich, ending the day fastest with his final lap in FP2 – but not by much. The Italian was only 0.031 ahead of Petronas Sprinta Racing’s John McPhee, with the Scot, in turn, only 0.022 clear of SIC58 Squadra Corse’s Tatsuki Suzuki. The close timesheets didn’t end there, with 20 riders covered by a second at the end of a Friday that saw riders push hard in the closing stages to make it into the provisional Q2 graduation zone. Why? Adverse forecasts for Saturday’s FP3 session mean Friday could prove crucial…

The day began with Jakub Kornfeil (Redox PrüstelGP) going quickest in FP1, and the Czech rider was one of only a handful who didn’t improve. He remains fifth overall, however, with only the top three and Ayumu Sasaki (Petronas Sprinta Racing) the only riders able to overhaul him in FP2. VNE Snipers’ Tony Arbolino ended the day sixth, just ahead of Bester Capital Dubai’s Jaume Masia in seventh.

Niccolo Antonelli (SIC58 Squadra Corse), fresh from his stunner of a comeback from pitlane to top five at Brno, was P8 on Day 1, with Ai Ogura (Honda Team Asia) just behind the Italian as the Japanese rider looks for another impressive top six finish in his rookie season. Filip Salač (Redox PrüstelGP) completed the top ten.

Championship rivals Aron Canet (Sterilgarda Max Racing Team) and Lorenzo Dalla Porta (Leopard Racing) had a more muted first day, but both have a provisional place in Q2. Dalla Porta was 11th fastest and just ahead of teammate Marcos Ramirez, with Canet in P14 behind rookie Raul Fernandez (Sama Qatar Angel Nieto Team). The Championship leader didn’t improve in the afternoon and seemed like he could be heading for Q1 before a lap for Dennis Foggia (Sky Racing Team VR46) was cancelled, boosting Canet into 14th.

See who heads into Q2 as FP3 gets in gear at 9:00 local time (GMT +2) on Saturday, before qualifying from 12:35. Will the bad weather stay away?

Friday’s fastest:1 – Celestino Vietti (ITA – KTM) 1’36.585

2 – John McPhee (GBR – Honda) +0.031

3 – Tatsuki Suzuki (JPN – Honda) +0.053

4 – Ayumu Sasaki (JPN – Honda) +0.352

5 – Jakub Kornfeil (CZE – KTM) +0.382

Viñales missed out by hundredthsDovi stayed in the top three overall despite a crashNakagami was top Independent Team rider

Chollada fired a 3-under-par 69 to finish at 11-under-par 205, while 17-year-old Panchalika Apamongkol took the amateur title after carding a 10-under-par 206.

The tournament is the year’s eighth and final LPGA Tour event of the year, The top 20 players in the LPGA ranking automatically qualify for the Bt4-million Thailand LPGA Masters 2019 scheduled for September 4-6 at the Panya Indra golf course in Bangkok.

Chollada, who earlier won the 4th leg of the LPGA series, started the final round at 4-under-par and scored five birdies along with two bogeys to clinch the Bt142,500 winner’s prize. She has now earned Bt488,224 and is the top earner in this year’s LPGA Tour.

“I chilled during the first nine holes but on the back nine I started feeling some pressure,” she said. “But I tried to be patient and waited for the right opportunity to score. It was a great Mother’s Day’s gift for my mother, who was cheering for me today.”

Tied in second place at 10-under-par 206 were Pacharajutha Kongkraphan from Khon Kaen, 18-year-old Ornkanok Soisuwan and amateur winner Panchalika.

Amateur winner Panchalika

Results

1 (-11) 205 Chollada Chayanan 65-71-69 (Bt142,500)

T2 (-10) 206 Pacharajutha Kongkraphan 71-69-66, Ornkanok Soisuwan 70-70-66 (Bt78,730 each), Panchalika Apamongkol (A) 66-68-72

T5 (-9) 207 Mookarin Ladkratok 70-68-69, Natthaphan Siritrai 66-71-70 (Bt47,235 each)

T7 (-8) 208 Apichaya Yubol 69-70-69, Saraporn Chamchoy 65-71-72 (Bt32,780 each)

T9 (-7) 209 Chompach Pongthanarak 68-73-68 (Bt27,100)

T10 (-6) 210 Dusaween Supimjitr 69-71-70, Kusuma Meechai 69-70-71 (Bt23,485 each), Chanoknant Angkuraserani (A) 69-74-67

The 30-year-old Thai produced five birdies against a lone bogey at a sun-kissed Liberty National Golf Club to end the first round five back of leader Troy Merritt, who opened with a blistering nine-birdie 62.

Entering the Playoffs in 76th place on the FedExCup points list, Kiradech needs a projected 27th place finish at the tournament to progress into next week’s BMW Championship in Chicago, which is restricted to the top-70 players. The best 30 golfers will then advance into the Playoffs Finale, the Tour Championship in Atlanta where the FedExCup champion will pocket a handsome US$15 million.

“I hit the ball solid and rolled the putts better, although some putts didn’t drop,” said Kiradech, who needed 27 strokes with his flatstick in the round.

“You have to keep the ball on the fairway and keep it in position. I think I played better than the score today but overall, it’s a good start.”

While he could have benefited from a hot putter, Kiradech is more concerned for his injured right knee as he walked with a slight limp off the course and immediately required treatment with Tour physios.

“It’s a bit swollen now, so hopefully the treatment will help,” he said.

Kiradech is hoping to make a late push into the top-8 of the International Team standings for the Presidents Cup. He is currently 20th on the points list and trails eighth-ranked CT Pan by 37.69 points, which is derived from the Official World Golf Ranking.

The big-hitting Thai is enjoying his first trip to Jersey City, which neighbours New York. “The course is in great condition, it’s my first time here and it’s in fantastic shape,” he said.

“I just need to keep the ball in play this week as it’s a very challenging course with a mix of short and long holes.”

Marquez has only one track where he hasn’t won in MotoGP™: the Red Bull RingCan Dovi become the first repeat winner here?Rossi readies himself for the challengeNo place like home: Pol Espargaro prepares to fly the flag for KTM on home turfMiller laughs off the frenzy of the rumour mill

Crutchlow was only just off the podium last year

With heavy rain and winds projected for Friday’s second round, 2017 Ladies Scottish Open winner Lee knew she had to take advantage of the sunny morning.

“So when I see the forecast, today is like best day and then tomorrow is worst day,” said Lee, who hit 17 of 18 greens on Thursday. “So my plan, my kind of plan was I try to make a lot of birdies as I can, and then I think I did, so I’m really happy to do it. Then I think tomorrow, hopefully we can play, but just I really look forward to play tomorrow and this weekend.”

Park birdied holes 4-7 in Scotland on Thursday, and said she wasn’t worrying about the projected forecast for Friday.

“I love playing in the winds and rain,” Park said. “It’s a super challenge, obviously, but it kind of makes you dig deep and make some good putts and good pars. I think my game is really good for grinding out some pars. I’m looking forward to it, whatever tomorrow brings.”

While van Dam was pleased that she took advantage of the calm conditions on Thursday, she echoed Park’s thoughts that the impending forecast didn’t change her game plan.

“I just wanted to play one shot at a time and see if I put the ball in the fairway, where the pin was, if I can go at it, or play a bit more safe,” van Dam said.

Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn, who also played in the morning wave, fired a bogey-free 7-under par 64 to sit in solo fourth. While Caroline Hedwall, Chella Choi and Su Oh sit T5 at 6-under par.

VAN DAM MAKES FINAL SOLHEIM CUP PUSH

Like many at the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, 2019 LPGA rookie Anne van Dam is keen for Monday’s Solheim Cup Team Europe announcement. Van Dam entered this week ranked third on the Ladies European Tour Solheim Cup points, a ranking which includes three LET titles.

Van Dam put herself in a good position to become the second player from the Netherlands to play on a Solheim Cup team, as she is tied for the first-round lead at The Renaissance Club at 8-under par.

“We [the Netherlands] only had one player [Christel Boeljon] so far in the history that ever played in the Solheim Cup,” van Dam said. “So getting closer for Holland, it’s very exciting.”

The big-hitting 23-year-old took advantage of the par-5s on Thursday, making two birdies and two eagles for a 63, her lowest-career round on the LPGA. After her round, the rookie said she has more than just the Solheim Cup on her mind this week.

“It’s a big week, final week of the points. But I’ve got bigger things than that. For me it’s important to keep playing well on the LPGA. I kind of need my points there, and I’m just looking forward to playing a solid week of golf. Whatever happens at the end of the week, I can’t control that. All I can do is play as well as I can. I played really well the last two years now. It’s just, yeah, all the players play well, as well, and there’s points to pick up for other players, so that’s out of my control. All I can control is just how I played and play well today. So pleased with that.”

LOW EXPECTATIONS KEY FOR JANE PARK

Walking off the 18th green after the first round of the Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open, Jane Park asked her caddie “What did we shoot? 3-under?” Her caddie, Derrick Redd, laughed and responded: “Try 8-under.”

Park’s first-round 63 is her best mark of the season, and afterwards she said she felt strangely good walking to the first tee after a less-than-ideal warm up.

“Well, honestly, I had a pretty crappy warm up this morning on the range. I just had a feeling, it’s probably going to be a good day, because whenever I have a crappy warm-up, you honestly stop thinking about things. You stop thinking about mechanics. You just go out and hit shots. On this course, you kind of have to hit some pretty good golf shots, and thankfully, I was able to do that today.”

With high wind and storms expected in North Berwick on Friday, Park was pleased to put up a good number with near perfect conditions Thursday morning.

“I’m very happy with my start. I heard the end of the world is coming tomorrow, so I’ll be sleeping in the morning and hopefully I’ll wake up to some sunshine, but if not, we’ll deal with that when I get there.”

PLAYER NOTES

Rolex Rankings No. 153 Jane Park (63)

• Park’s first-round 63 is her lowest round of the 2019 Tour season; it is her second-lowest career round, she carded a career-best 62 in the final round of the 2008 NW Arkansas Championship
• She hit 10 of 13 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 26 putts
• Park has led/co-led three previous times following the first round, most recently at the 2017 TOTO Japan Classic where she finished T15
• Park is in her 13th year on the LPGA; she has 13 career top-10 finishes including two runner-up finishes in 2008
• This is Park’s 15th event of the 2019 LPGA season; she has made nine cuts with a best finish of T17 at the ISPS Handa Vic Open in February
• Park is competing in her third Ladies Scottish Open (since it was co-sanctioned by the LPGA and LET); with a best finish of T35 in 2018
• She is the 2004 U.S Women’s Amateur Champion

Rolex Rankings No. 101 Anne van Dam (63)

• Van Dam’s first-round 63 is her lowest career-round on the LPGA Tour; her previous best was a third-round 65 at the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• She hit eight of 13 fairways and 16 of 18 greens, with 28 putts
• This is the first time van Dam has held a share of the lead following any round on the LPGA
• Van Dam is a 2019 LPGA rookie; she finished T15 at the inaugural LPGA Q-Series to earn Priority List Category 14 status for the 2019 LPGA season
• This is van Dam’s 17th event of the 2019 LPGA season; her career-best finish is T15 at the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic
• Van Dam leads the LPGA in average driving distance (283.97)
• She is a four-time winner on the LET, including a victory in March at the ActewWAGL Canberra Classic
• She is currently third in the LET Solheim Cup points standings, looking to make her debut at Gleneagles

Rolex Rankings No. 38 Mi Hyang Lee (63)

• Lee’s first-round 63 is her lowest round of the 2019 Tour season; it is her second-lowest career round, she carded a career-best 62 in the first round of the 2016 Bank of Hope Founders Cup
• She hit 10 of 13 fairways and 17 of 18 greens, with 28 putts
• Lee has led/co-led four previous times following the first round, most recently at the 2017 Manulife LPGA Classic where she finished T5
• Lee is in her eighth year on the LPGA; she has two career wins at the 2017 Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open and the 2014 Mizuno Classic
• This is Lee’s 20th event of the 2019 LPGA season; she has made 17 cuts with a runner-up finish at the ANA Inspiration

Prof Charoen Wattanasin, vice president of NOCT, said the communication link will be provided by True Corporation so athletes can remain connected with their families.

“This represents not only physical but also moral support for the athletes, helping them to reach their goals and bring pride to Thailand,” he said.

Kachorn Chiaravanont, member of Charoen Pokphand Group’s executive committee, said: “It’s been a great pleasure for the company to officially provide meals and communication technology for Thai athletes at major international competitions since 2016. The upcoming SEA Games and 2020 Olympics will represent another important mission for the CP Group to be part of support provided to athletes, staffers and members of the media during the two tournaments.” Affiliates of the Charoen Pokphand Group include CPF, CP ALL, and True Corporation.

He said this year, athletes will be given 18 choices for their meals, including Four Seasons grilled duck with egg noodles, glass noodles baked with shrimp, stir-fried chicken and basil with rice, deep-fried fish with herbs and spicy sauce with rice, chicken green curry with rice, omelette with minced chicken and rice, fried garlic pork with rice, fried rice with chachu pork, rice fried with pork and basil, charcoal-grilled tender chicken fillet, pork wonton with spicy Thai-style dipping sauce, roasted barbecue chicken, shrimp wonton soup, shrimp wonton in tom yup soup, chilli paste rice with chicken breast, savoury boiled brown rice with chicken as well as sago with black bean in coconut milk and red bean with sticky rice in coconut milk for dessert.

All 11 members of the Southeast Asian Games Federation will be participating in 56 sports, with 1,048 athletes from Thailand alone. At the 2020 Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo from July 24 to August 9, 206 nations will participate in 33 sports.