STILLWATER, Okla. – Spencer Soosman of Westlake Village, California, extended his lead at The PING Invitational after carding a 1-over-par 73 and a two-day total of 3-under-par 141. In the Girls Division, Nelly Korda of Bradenton, Florida, also maintained her position atop the leaderboard with a second-round score of even-par 72 and 36-hole total of 4-under-par 140.
Soosman led by three strokes to start the second round. After bogeying his first four holes, Soosman settled into a groove, carding nine pars, four birdies and one bogey on his last 14 holes. The UCLA verbal commit believed he made the necessary adjustments to finish his second round strong.
“Being a veteran I know what this course can do to you,” Soosman said. “I was still playing well, but putts just weren’t dropping, but it was one of those days where I knew I would just have to tough it out.”
Soosman is excited for the opportunity to win The PING Invitational Monday and add his name to an impressive list of past champions.
“It’s pretty amazing to think that Jordan (Spieth) was out here four, five and six years ago and look where he is now,” Soosman said. “It would mean a lot to win here because this course really tests what type of player you are.”
Harrison Ott of Brookfield, Wisconsin, carded even-par 72 in the second round to move into second at 2-over-par 146. Noah Goodwin of Corinth, Texas, and Austin Eckroat of Edmond, Oklahoma, are T3 with 5-over-par 149s. Benjamin Shipp of Duluth, Georgia, and Matthew Wolff of Agoura Hills, California, round out the top five at 7-over-par 151.
Korda led by as many as six strokes Sunday and was the only player in the Girls Division to card a second round at or below par. The senior got up-and-down from the bunker for birdie on No. 18 to finish play four strokes ahead of the field. At the 2015 Yani Tseng Invitational presented by the Swinging Skirts, Korda used her second-round lead to win her first Invitational, which gives her confidence heading into the final round.
“All I was thinking on No. 18 was birdie, because I didn’t want to finish over par,” Korda said. “I had to make the birdie to finish even, so I’m happy I made that. Maintaining the lead is always positive and I’m just looking forward to the final round.”
Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, California, is in second, four strokes behind Korda, at even-par 144. Jaravee Boonchant of Bangkok,Thailand, rounds out the top three at 2-over-par 146.
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ABOUT THE
AJGA PING Invitational
One of the AJGA series of tournaments that
require an invitation to participate. Format is 54
holes of stroke play.
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