LPGA State Farm Classic

Well after the first 3 days at the State farm classic (wednesday-fri), it's another yr in the books of volunteering. While wednesday's temp (heat index over 100 degrees), thursday was again warm. The  family of volunteers is  an amazing  group of individuals who are there to support not only the sport they love, but to meet their favorite players and form friendships with others volunteers and fans. It's an experience that any golf lover would enjoy and I highly recommend it! One thing that has a cloud over it at this years tourney, is that State Farm will not be the sponsor and the StateFarm Classic as we know it will end after this weekend. That in itself, is sad. I only hope that one of Illinois large cities gives the LPGA what it deserves, and that's to keep a tourney in Illinois (the good 'ol Midwest).

Days as a volunteer can be long and arduous, but your there to help make the tournament be successful. My mornings started with waking up by 4:30 and being on the course by 6:00 am. My days ended wed and thursday, when the pro am and tourney subsequently ended. Friday was a shortened day for me, with working all am and enjoying the afternoon watching and meeting additional players. One such player whom I had a nice meet & greet with, was Brittany Lincicome.

As alot  of you may know, I was chosen as a finalist for the "Scavenger for Solheim" game that was sponsored during the month of may. Four additional cities along with Springfield, each had a "player representative" per se. You simply found the secret codes and entered them online in hopes of being randomly chosen as a finalist for that city. Well, I was chosen as a finalist for the city which Brittany Lincicome represents.

Now, all of you know that Brittany Lincicome just won the LPGA ShopRite Classic last week. She had a round of 67 thursday and a 69 on friday. She finished in a tie for 6 after friday's round. She is such a talented golfer and a very sweet young lady. I was fortunate to have a special meet and greet with her after her round friday. The other players representing cities are; Cristie Kerr, Kristy McPherson, Christina Kim and Morgan Pressel. The grand prize for the finalist whose player finishes better than the other players, is an expense paid trip to Ireland for the Solheim Cup. Brittany has birdied has birdied 3 of her first 4 holes today to sit alone in 4th place! She is playing some of her best golf lately! I was able to watch her come through the 18th hole yesterday (she started on #10), and stood next to her father.

The defending Champ Cristie Kerr hasn't had her best rounds however, she will stay focused and anything is possible. She started today in a tie for 9th place and currently sits in a tie for 15th after being only -1 through the first 5 holes.

One of my favorites is Karen Stupples, whom I had the chance to chat with this week. Karen hails from England and her husband is on the bag for her. She was awesome to watch in her warm up yesterday. She had rounds of 69 and 68 and is even for the day thru 6 holes. Please excuse the squinting, my visor wasn't pulled down as much as Karen's Pukka Headwear she was styling with her Quagmire clothes and KentWool sox!

So, while today is a day off, I will travel back to the LPGA StateFarm Classic on Sunday for the final round!   
And for that final round, I will be joined by my friend @Ouchieee via Twitter. I met MaryAnn at last year's tourney in Springfield, after we had been tweeting. She'll actually be coming into town later this aftn and we have seafood on tap for this eve! Yum Yum!

And, it isn't every day that you get to meet and talk with the World's #1 LPGA player Yani Tseng. She was so nice and posed for pics, plus signed my visor, whilst wearing it!

Currently, after the first two rounds, Mindy Kim is in a tie for the lead She had rounds of 64 and 67 respectively. She is +1 through 2 holes, while Tseng and Feng are -1 through the first 2 holes today!  The Kraft Nabisco champ Stacy Lewis had a 3rd round 64, which moved her from within a tie in 52nd place after rounds 1 & 2, into a tie for 5th currently, at -8.

If you can't make it to the tourney, you can follow along the scoring via Real Time Scoring . The Golf Channel will have delayed televised coverage Sat. from 6:30-9:30 CT and 7:00-9:30 Sunday!

Below, you'll see Morgan Pressel warming up on the range friday am before her round. It was a pretty cool/cloudy start to the day, which quickly warmed up once the clouds left! Also, Yani Tseng on friday at the range warming up.

Now, Go Hit Some Balls................