Lin Grant shoots 62 in Dana Open, misses chance to become second LPGA Tour player to break 60
SYLVANIA, Ohio –
Linn Grant missed a chance to become the second LPGA Tour player to break 60. Putting himself in position for a breakout win in the Dana Open was a great comfort on a long, rainy Saturday in Highland Meadows.
Nine under on her first 13 holes, Grant played the last five in even par for a 9-under 62. Fellow Swede Annika Sorenstam is the only LPGA Tour player to shoot 59, tying the feat in the Standard Register Ping of 2001 on par-72 Valley of the Moon in Phoenix.
“There was a spectator who cried it to my face,” Grant said when asked if she was thinking of a 59. “He just came up to me and he said, ‘Do you think you have a 59 in you? All of a sudden I was like, ‘Oh, God. So I just tried not to focus on it at all.’
Two strokes back in the round, Grant had a total of 18 under 195 to take a six-stroke lead over U.S. Women’s Open champion Allisen Corpuz (68), Stephanie Kyriacou (65), Maria Fassi (67), Matilda Castren (67) and Emily Pedersen (67).
Looking for her first LPGA Tour win, 24-year-old Grant won the Jabra Ladies Open in France in May for her fifth Ladies European Tour title in two seasons.
Grant opened with a par on Saturday and made birdies on the next four. After a rain delay of 3 hours 48 minutes, she resumed play at No. 8 and added a birdie at No. 9 for a front-nine 29. 12 and 13.
“Eleven was great,” Grant said. “I hit a really good drive and a really good second shot, it just took one bounce and I went in. I think it’s my first hole-out eagle, probably. Just really cool.”
Having to play the last five in 3 under for a 59, the former Arizona State player parred the next two, bogeyed the par-4 on the 16th, birdie the par-5 on the 17th and parred the par- 5 on the 18th.
“After, probably, 13, I just felt like maybe things were going a little too fast,” Grant said. “So I just started to get nervous and feel like I had no control over the situation at all. So I kind of held back. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing, but I felt like it was. what I had to do. So just really happy that I took control of the situation.”
Corpuz won the US Women’s Open at Pebble Beach a week ago for her first tour title. She played alongside Grant and second round leader Annie Park in the final group.
“Linn definitely lit it up today,” Corpuz said. “I hope the best for her tomorrow. I mean no one will catch up with her if she plays like she did today.”
Park had a 71 to fall back to tie for seventh at 11 under with Minjee Lee (67).
