Thirteen competitors finished the Wendy’s Championship for Children last year under par. With a mild, rain-filled summer, this year’s conditions could translate into lower scores.
The conditions have given competitors a sigh of relief as the LPGA Tour returns to Ohio for the 2003 Wendy’s Championship for Children. Competitors took part in the Tuesday afternoon practice round at Tartan Fields Golf Club.
“Last year, the course was very dry and hard,” Columbus native Kristal Parker-Manzo said. “There has been a lot of rain over the last couple of days, but when it does rain out here, the course plays much longer. I think the course will favor the long hitters. In the end, the person who is putting well will be the one who be successful.”
The tournament is a homecoming of sorts for six different golfers as they return to the Buckeye State for the second time in the last four weeks.
“It’s always nice to play at home,” Parker-Manzo said. “I have a lot of friends and family who are coming out to watch me play. It’s a good feeling to have your friends and family come out, but at the same time it can be a real challenge. I think the hardest thing for a player is not to put too much pressure on yourself when your playing at home.”
Returning to Tartan Fields will be defending champion Mi-Hyun Kim. Kim has struggled this year as she failed to make the cut at last week’s British Open.
Last year, Kim built a three-stroke lead going into the final round and held off Hee-Won Han to capture the 2002 Wendy’s Championship by one stroke.
Leading the challengers this year will be seasoned veteran Juli Inkster. At 43, the LPGA hall of fame inductee has shown no signs of slowing down. Inkster has placed in the Top 10 seven different times, while capturing two tour titles at the LPGA Corning Classic and at the Evan Masters this season.
“I feel as if I’m playing well,” Inkster said. “I think that if I play well, I’ll have as good a chance as anybody out there. The course is playing a lot longer from last year and the greens are holding. I think players are going to be able to hit some long irons and go for the green.”
Former Georgia Bulldog and top LPGA rookie Angela Jerman also will be teeing off. Jerman placed in the Top 15 twice this season. She returns to the states after competing in the Weetabix Women’s British Open where she tied for 50th.
“I feel good about my game coming into this week,” Jerman said. “I felt good about the way I played at the British Open. I just want to come into this tournament with a good attitude, and hopefully, I will make some things happen.”
Jerman’s highest finish this season came at the McDonald’s LPGA championship where she tied for 11th.
“Staying patient has been one of the toughest things to deal with while on tour,” Jerman said. “When you don’t play well, the previous week it’s tough to just erase that tournament from your memory.”
The 54-hole tournament is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. tomorrow and will conclude Sunday afternoon.
