1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from Newstalks EDB. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:14,747 Speaker 2: To do if she's to compete at the pointy end 4 00:00:14,747 --> 00:00:19,067 Speaker 2: of the latest LPGA Golf Major at Aaron Hills in Wisconsin. 5 00:00:19,107 --> 00:00:21,787 Speaker 2: The reigning Olympic gold medalist has made the cut at 6 00:00:21,787 --> 00:00:24,867 Speaker 2: the US Women's Open, but she is eight shots off 7 00:00:24,907 --> 00:00:27,987 Speaker 2: the lead. Lydia Co shot one under. Today, she's even 8 00:00:28,067 --> 00:00:31,707 Speaker 2: par overall in a tie for thirty seventh. Japan's Mole 9 00:00:31,827 --> 00:00:35,107 Speaker 2: Saygor tops the leaderboard eight hunderd par, three shots clear 10 00:00:35,147 --> 00:00:38,467 Speaker 2: of a group of six players at five under, including 11 00:00:38,747 --> 00:00:42,347 Speaker 2: current world number one Nelly Quarter. Great pleasure to welcome 12 00:00:42,387 --> 00:00:47,227 Speaker 2: to the show. Senior writer for Wisconsin Dot Golf, Gary Demato, Gary, 13 00:00:47,427 --> 00:00:49,667 Speaker 2: good to have you on the show. Play was suspended 14 00:00:49,707 --> 00:00:53,107 Speaker 2: for a time today due to dangerous weather. Did they 15 00:00:53,107 --> 00:00:55,147 Speaker 2: get the entire second round completed? 16 00:00:57,067 --> 00:00:59,907 Speaker 3: They did that. Unfortunately, there are I believe twelve players 17 00:00:59,907 --> 00:01:03,707 Speaker 3: who were stranded on the course. There was a weather 18 00:01:03,787 --> 00:01:06,667 Speaker 3: delay of almost an hour. They got back out on 19 00:01:06,667 --> 00:01:08,107 Speaker 3: the course toward the end of the night, but then 20 00:01:08,227 --> 00:01:11,507 Speaker 3: darkness fell and there were some women still on the course. 21 00:01:11,547 --> 00:01:14,187 Speaker 3: So they're going to rezoom play at I don't know 22 00:01:14,187 --> 00:01:16,147 Speaker 3: what time it is for you guys at eight thirty 23 00:01:16,707 --> 00:01:19,787 Speaker 3: a m. Central time in Wisconsin here tomorrow. You figure 24 00:01:19,787 --> 00:01:20,467 Speaker 3: it out from there. 25 00:01:21,307 --> 00:01:23,307 Speaker 2: Look, I'll do the maths at our end. We'll work 26 00:01:23,307 --> 00:01:26,547 Speaker 2: it out. Gary, no problem. So I guess there must 27 00:01:26,547 --> 00:01:29,707 Speaker 2: have been a risk lightning struck. So I heard an 28 00:01:29,747 --> 00:01:34,067 Speaker 2: unconfirmed report that a tree on the course was hit 29 00:01:34,107 --> 00:01:35,227 Speaker 2: by lightning. Is this right? 30 00:01:36,627 --> 00:01:39,827 Speaker 3: I believe a tree was hit. Someone texted me a 31 00:01:39,867 --> 00:01:41,667 Speaker 3: picture of the tree that it looked like it was 32 00:01:41,667 --> 00:01:43,947 Speaker 3: struck by lightning on the cifth fore, and it's really 33 00:01:43,987 --> 00:01:47,707 Speaker 3: funny because there's only five trees on the inside perimeter 34 00:01:47,747 --> 00:01:51,227 Speaker 3: of the golf course. There are virtually no trees in play, 35 00:01:51,627 --> 00:01:54,507 Speaker 3: and only five on the entire golf course, and one 36 00:01:54,547 --> 00:01:55,827 Speaker 3: of them apparently was struck. 37 00:01:57,067 --> 00:01:58,947 Speaker 2: All right, well, let's look at what happened on the course. 38 00:01:59,227 --> 00:02:01,467 Speaker 2: Dame Lydier cow who, of course we're very interested in 39 00:02:01,507 --> 00:02:05,267 Speaker 2: here in New Zealand. Eight strokes back? Is that too 40 00:02:05,307 --> 00:02:07,547 Speaker 2: big a gap to contain? For the one? 41 00:02:09,507 --> 00:02:12,267 Speaker 3: I would say if there was one round left, I 42 00:02:12,267 --> 00:02:15,747 Speaker 3: would say yes. But with thirty six holes left, I 43 00:02:15,787 --> 00:02:17,907 Speaker 3: think she's got a chance. I mean, I don't think 44 00:02:17,907 --> 00:02:20,107 Speaker 3: it's a good chance. But I like what she did 45 00:02:20,147 --> 00:02:22,667 Speaker 3: in the second round, and she was outside the cut 46 00:02:22,667 --> 00:02:24,987 Speaker 3: line and then played a great back nine with she 47 00:02:25,027 --> 00:02:27,147 Speaker 3: made a twenty foot birdie on number ten, a nine 48 00:02:27,187 --> 00:02:29,747 Speaker 3: footer on eleven, and a seven footer on fifteen. So 49 00:02:29,787 --> 00:02:32,267 Speaker 3: she finished very well and I'm sure that's going to 50 00:02:32,307 --> 00:02:34,227 Speaker 3: bode well for her going to the third round. 51 00:02:35,307 --> 00:02:39,227 Speaker 2: Mause IgA shot the low round today six under. She 52 00:02:39,267 --> 00:02:42,547 Speaker 2: has a three stroke laid over a chasing pack. What 53 00:02:42,707 --> 00:02:44,827 Speaker 2: did she do particularly well today? 54 00:02:46,787 --> 00:02:48,747 Speaker 3: You know, she's just got a really solid game, and 55 00:02:48,787 --> 00:02:52,267 Speaker 3: of course, she won the season's first major championship, the 56 00:02:52,347 --> 00:02:55,787 Speaker 3: Chevron Championship, first major of the year, back in April, 57 00:02:55,867 --> 00:02:59,667 Speaker 3: so obviously she's riding a wave of confidence. Came in here, 58 00:02:59,747 --> 00:03:01,787 Speaker 3: you know, feeling really good about her game, and I 59 00:03:01,827 --> 00:03:05,187 Speaker 3: think she's just doing everything well. She's not she's not 60 00:03:05,307 --> 00:03:09,067 Speaker 3: making bad mistakes, she's keeping her ball in play and 61 00:03:09,867 --> 00:03:11,667 Speaker 3: you know, making a lot of powers, grinding out a 62 00:03:11,667 --> 00:03:12,587 Speaker 3: lot of powers. 63 00:03:13,547 --> 00:03:16,147 Speaker 2: And I guess, of the chasing pack, your eyes naturally 64 00:03:16,267 --> 00:03:19,267 Speaker 2: land on the current world number one in Nellie quarter. 65 00:03:19,427 --> 00:03:23,227 Speaker 2: Does she appeal as the most likely challenger in rounds 66 00:03:23,227 --> 00:03:23,867 Speaker 2: three and four? 67 00:03:25,467 --> 00:03:28,107 Speaker 3: I would say definitely Yeah, Nelly has not has yet 68 00:03:28,147 --> 00:03:31,307 Speaker 3: to win the US Women's Open, just like Lydia Cole 69 00:03:31,347 --> 00:03:33,347 Speaker 3: has yet to win it. Now he's got a lot 70 00:03:33,347 --> 00:03:35,947 Speaker 3: of time though. She's twenty six years old, but she is. 71 00:03:36,227 --> 00:03:38,867 Speaker 3: She's playing very well. She made one hundred and twelve 72 00:03:38,947 --> 00:03:42,107 Speaker 3: feet worth of putts today, but oddly she missed two 73 00:03:42,227 --> 00:03:45,707 Speaker 3: very short puts, two puts under three feet. Had she 74 00:03:45,747 --> 00:03:47,547 Speaker 3: made those two, you know, she'd be one stroke off 75 00:03:47,627 --> 00:03:50,387 Speaker 3: the lead. But I believe she'll definitely be the player 76 00:03:50,387 --> 00:03:52,427 Speaker 3: to watch over the final thirty six goals. 77 00:03:52,747 --> 00:03:54,747 Speaker 2: Who else then, Gary? Who else is well placed to 78 00:03:54,747 --> 00:03:55,827 Speaker 2: make a bit of a run at this. 79 00:03:58,347 --> 00:04:01,307 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's really interesting. There's a woman named Sarah Smelser 80 00:04:01,707 --> 00:04:03,987 Speaker 3: who is thirty one years old, has never won on 81 00:04:04,027 --> 00:04:06,787 Speaker 3: the LPGA tour. She's been around a while and she 82 00:04:06,867 --> 00:04:09,707 Speaker 3: played great today and she's one of the women that 83 00:04:09,787 --> 00:04:13,427 Speaker 3: are three throws back. But you know, you come to 84 00:04:13,427 --> 00:04:15,427 Speaker 3: the pressure of the US Women's Open and some of 85 00:04:15,427 --> 00:04:18,907 Speaker 3: these women who have yet to win or to win 86 00:04:18,947 --> 00:04:22,267 Speaker 3: a major championship or any tournament, you know they're going 87 00:04:22,307 --> 00:04:23,947 Speaker 3: to be under a lot of pressure on the final 88 00:04:23,987 --> 00:04:27,027 Speaker 3: thirty six souls. But there are several women from Japan. 89 00:04:28,107 --> 00:04:32,387 Speaker 3: They're the top and a very strong Japanese contingent. But 90 00:04:32,467 --> 00:04:34,587 Speaker 3: I think really, you know those six types per second 91 00:04:34,667 --> 00:04:38,667 Speaker 3: place and Mount Saigo and the league, I think you know, 92 00:04:38,747 --> 00:04:40,867 Speaker 3: the winner probably will come from that group, would be 93 00:04:40,907 --> 00:04:41,307 Speaker 3: my guest. 94 00:04:42,107 --> 00:04:44,627 Speaker 2: Tell us about the course at Aaron Hills, what are 95 00:04:45,107 --> 00:04:46,187 Speaker 2: specific challenges. 96 00:04:47,867 --> 00:04:51,587 Speaker 3: Yes, it's you know, as I mentioned earlier, it's wide open, 97 00:04:51,667 --> 00:04:55,027 Speaker 3: it's a Lynks style inland Link style course. There's no ocean, 98 00:04:55,067 --> 00:04:57,467 Speaker 3: but there's an ocean of sand. There's a ton of 99 00:04:57,467 --> 00:05:00,267 Speaker 3: bunkers on the golf course, one hundred and thirty five bunkers, 100 00:05:00,267 --> 00:05:02,627 Speaker 3: I believe, which is the most that the women will 101 00:05:02,627 --> 00:05:05,507 Speaker 3: see on the LPGA Tour this year. And you know, 102 00:05:05,587 --> 00:05:08,107 Speaker 3: it's a it's a long course. It's playing at just 103 00:05:08,147 --> 00:05:10,427 Speaker 3: a little over sixty eight hundred yards for the women 104 00:05:10,507 --> 00:05:13,947 Speaker 3: this week. And really what protects power on this course 105 00:05:14,147 --> 00:05:17,707 Speaker 3: is the slopes, a lot of green surrounds closely moaned 106 00:05:17,747 --> 00:05:19,427 Speaker 3: grass that if you miss the green, it's going to 107 00:05:19,547 --> 00:05:22,987 Speaker 3: row thirty or forty yards down the hill. And then 108 00:05:23,027 --> 00:05:26,307 Speaker 3: the wind. The wind blew pretty strong late in the 109 00:05:26,387 --> 00:05:29,067 Speaker 3: day today and I'm kind of hoping it blows on 110 00:05:29,107 --> 00:05:31,627 Speaker 3: the weekend a little bit, because that's what protects power. 111 00:05:32,187 --> 00:05:35,227 Speaker 3: Brooks KPCUK set sixteen under two seventy two when he 112 00:05:35,307 --> 00:05:38,867 Speaker 3: won the men's US Open here in twenty seventeen, and 113 00:05:38,987 --> 00:05:42,667 Speaker 3: Miles Sago is halfway there at eight under halfway through 114 00:05:42,667 --> 00:05:45,187 Speaker 3: this championship, so I'm hopeful we get a little bit 115 00:05:45,227 --> 00:05:48,507 Speaker 3: of I'm hoping the course defends itself and Mother Nature 116 00:05:48,547 --> 00:05:49,667 Speaker 3: comes to its rescue here. 117 00:05:50,547 --> 00:05:53,547 Speaker 2: Okay, well likely not as much, well as much roth 118 00:05:53,627 --> 00:05:56,427 Speaker 2: as she did today. Is the full cost bit of 119 00:05:56,467 --> 00:05:58,387 Speaker 2: it tomorrow in Sunday. 120 00:05:59,547 --> 00:06:02,747 Speaker 3: It is. It's been a very rough May in our 121 00:06:02,787 --> 00:06:05,067 Speaker 3: part of the world here. We've had a lot of 122 00:06:05,107 --> 00:06:08,387 Speaker 3: cold days and rain. But the weekend looks really good. 123 00:06:08,907 --> 00:06:13,147 Speaker 3: Sunny temperatures in the mid seventies fahrenheit and a little 124 00:06:13,147 --> 00:06:15,027 Speaker 3: bit of a breeze, you know, blowing at eight to 125 00:06:15,147 --> 00:06:19,347 Speaker 3: twelve sometime maybe gusting into the upper teams miles per hour, 126 00:06:19,827 --> 00:06:22,467 Speaker 3: so it should be ideal scoring conditions now. Of course, 127 00:06:22,507 --> 00:06:25,467 Speaker 3: has been shoppened by some rain tonight, so I would 128 00:06:25,507 --> 00:06:28,587 Speaker 3: suspect that we'll see some really good scores on the weekend. Again. 129 00:06:29,267 --> 00:06:30,827 Speaker 2: Gary, it's been a great pleasure to have you on 130 00:06:30,867 --> 00:06:33,027 Speaker 2: the show with your time and your expertise. Thanks so 131 00:06:33,107 --> 00:06:36,467 Speaker 2: much for joining us across New Zealand. Really appreciate it 132 00:06:36,547 --> 00:06:37,107 Speaker 2: my pleasure. 133 00:06:37,147 --> 00:06:37,907 Speaker 3: Thank you so much. 134 00:06:38,307 --> 00:06:40,907 Speaker 2: All the best to you. Gary Demato there senior writer 135 00:06:41,067 --> 00:06:44,667 Speaker 2: with Wisconsin dot Golf. You can follow him on social 136 00:06:45,467 --> 00:06:47,467 Speaker 2: and in terms of the leader board, as we say, 137 00:06:47,587 --> 00:06:51,227 Speaker 2: lydia Co eight shots off the lead after two rounds. 138 00:06:51,907 --> 00:06:55,387 Speaker 2: Male Saiga has the lead at eight under in a 139 00:06:55,427 --> 00:06:58,827 Speaker 2: group of six players at five under. Lydia Co is 140 00:06:58,867 --> 00:07:02,867 Speaker 2: currently at one under the cart after sorry she's even 141 00:07:02,907 --> 00:07:06,107 Speaker 2: part shooting a one under round today. She's even part 142 00:07:06,107 --> 00:07:08,747 Speaker 2: of the tournament, eight shots back from the lead. Look 143 00:07:08,787 --> 00:07:11,667 Speaker 2: forward to following her progress over the next little while. 144 00:07:12,667 --> 00:07:15,827 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 145 00:07:15,947 --> 00:07:19,227 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 146 00:07:19,267 --> 00:07:20,907 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.