2019 Kia Classic Mar 28 - 31

**Race to the CME Globe:** 500 Points

**Format:** 72 holes

**Purse:** $1,800,000

**Location:** Aviara Golf Club, Carlsbad, CA

**Par:** 72

**Yardage**: 6,558

**History:** This is the 10th year for the event. In 2018, Eun-Hee Ji won with an ace on Sunday’s closing stretch to capture her fourth career win on the LPGA Tour. Eun-Hee carded a final round 5-under par, 67 to win by two-strokes ahead of Cristie Kerr and Lizette Salas.

**Coverage:**

* Mar 28: Golf Channel 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm (ET)

* Mar 29: Golf Channel 8:30 pm - 10:30 pm (ET)

* Mar 30: Golf Channel 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (ET)

* Mar 31: Golf Channel 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm (ET)


Another strong field teeing it up at Aviara. It looks like Nelly, Jessica, Georgia, and Charley are sitting this one out. Sponsor invites include long hitting Anne Van Dam, and KLPGA star Ji Hyun Oh.

The weather forecast looks decent, but it'll be cool in the mornings. The typical offshore winds will be present, making the opening stretch of holes play long.

TV coverage looks meh. 'Much better next week at the ANA.

My pick this week is Lydia. She was the winner here in 2016, and seems to have found some form. I expect Yiu Lu to bounce back from her near miss last week.

Here’s the Monday qualifier results

https://qs.lpga.com/reports/?tourn=KIAQ&report=https://preq.lpga.com/tic/tmscores.cgi?tourn=KIAQ~season=2019~params=P*1SRC01~

Carter and Perry are in the field, so must have won a playoff. Two weeks in a row Cheyenne Woods barely misses.

Van Dam is in from the priority list, not a sponsor’s exemption.

Not sure who I'm picking yet, SHP has a very strong record here and is in great form. This course can be Krytonite for the bombers, if they don't bring accuracy too.

Decisions, decisions..Nice to see Lexi and DK in the field. I`m hoping with Nelly passing Lexi as the top ranked American, it might spark a fire in Lexi. I expect a high finish out of Jin Young again, along with Sei Young and Mirim Lee. My gut is telling me Lizette Salas tops the board, call me crazy but I`m going with Cristie Kerr. Bronte Law as my sleeper.

PS- This new forum is irritating..

Holy heck, virtually every single favorite player I have on tour is playing this week ... like a big golf royal flush or something. The stars have aligned. Gah I've never wanted to go to one in person so bad!

I'm still very happy from last week, want everyone to keep doing good. MJ was contending here two years ago, hope she has success here again. All the talk about In Gee at the end of last thread makes me really want to see her make it and what's going to happen with her driving too.

Ok, I've stared at the past four years here, and I conclude ... Cristie for me too? She's had great results here and is doing solid this year (I've been kind of watching after she got that top 10 after getting mentioned in thread, was cool). Staring at the lists so much I agree that a bomber-only can't seem to do it.

SHP is puzzling. Two 4T's, but then a MC last year. I'd be happy to see Lydia. Was actually kind of hoping for her last Sunday, when I got memories of her doing the late but inevitable climb.

So many players I adore here, gonna be on pins and needles.

Just saw that Wie withdrew from this tournament. Honestly, I was surprised she would even be trying to play (seems like just cleared to practice again a few days ago). Seems like the problem is still there, and she's just hoping to be able to play in the ANA even if it's not 100% / game not really in shape.

> @"Seamus McDuff" said:

> Here’s the Monday qualifier results

>

> https://qs.lpga.com/reports/?tourn=KIAQ&report=https://preq.lpga.com/tic/tmscores.cgi?tourn=KIAQ~season=2019~params=P*1SRC01~

>

> Carter and Perry are in the field, so must have won a playoff. Two weeks in a row Cheyenne Woods barely misses.

>

>

> Van Dam is in from the priority list, not a sponsor’s exemption.

Unfortunate Cheyenne missed the cut. I'm thinking Ciganda wins after coming so close last week.

I couldn't decide between Amy Yang and So Yeon Ryu, so I guess I think one of them will win this week.

It would be great to see So Yeon find some form this week. It's been a bit of a struggle up to this point.

I am going tomorrow with one single purpose in mind. To answer the most important question of the 2019 LPGA season:

Who is the longest on the tour , Angel Yin or Anne Van Dam ?

Angel likes to brag about how she is the longest on tour ( at least carry ). I know she is not playing this week, but I followed her quite a bit last year and has definitely left quite an impression on a number of holes. These two go way back to their LET days and have a playful "rivalry" of who is longer.

The Brooke, Kang , Minjee pairing looks like the best one. A handful of other groups with two interesting players but the third could have been improved.

> @agolf1 said:

> The Brooke, Kang , Minjee pairing looks like the best one. A handful of other groups with two interesting players but **the third could have been improved.

**

Week before a Major we lose some of the top tier talent taking the week off.

I think the Kia should be a Major rather than the ANA.

Bad take or unpopular take, you decide lol

> @Stooch said:

> > @agolf1 said:

> > The Brooke, Kang , Minjee pairing looks like the best one. A handful of other groups with two interesting players but **the third could have been improved.

> **

> Week before a Major we lose some of the top tier talent taking the week off.

From a quick browse, it look like Hull, Hall and the Kordas are the only notables missing. I could be wrong. Wie is injured and Creamer is indisposed.

> @Stooch said:

> I think the Kia should be a Major rather than the ANA.

> Bad take or unpopular take, you decide lol

I agree. The course alone is amazing to walk around and enjoy.

I'm pulling for Brooke and local favorite Alana Uriell. Sad that Belen is not here :'( Looking forward to the Birdie Bar at the 16th green .

I can't decide who to pick this week. I'll root for Ji Hyun Oh and see if she'll decide to play on the US based tour if she wins.

In Gee and Ayako in a playoff. What the heck, I didn't win Powerball so why not?

Wow I guess the 11th is a beast lol

What is going on with Su? She's currently +5 after 7 holes (starting on #10). 'Something is definitely amiss. She had a quad on the par 3 11th, which is not that difficult a hole.

Anna is +3 after 3 holes. Pannarat is +7 after 5 holes (starting on #10).

'Nice bounce back for In Gee, birdieing the 12th after carding a double on the par 3 11th. 'Yeah, the hole is playing tough for some reason.

Jenny Shin also doubled the 11th.

Danielle Kang doubled the 11th too

They must have the flag close to the right side near the pond.

What's up with the LPGA continuing to use Natalie Gulbis as the leaderboard pic?

Amongst my questions this season are Inbee and Shanshan. Two exceptional players with several wins but not making too much noise recently.

This is only the 3rd event of the year for Inbee. She's currently tied for 2nd at -5, so the rust appears to be coming off.

Shanshan has had two top 10's, and one top 20, in 4 events, so she's not completely off the rails. 'Much better than the finish to her 2018 season, where she had only one top 10 in her last 8 starts.

'Nice round by Chella. I didn't think a seven under round was possible today. She went bogie free.

This is totally an Imbee type tournament, demands accuracy with all shots and good putting and if she's firing, the field better watch out!

Chun with an OK round, but another very short day off the tee at 233 yards. She did miss a few more fairways than normal (9/14), which I guess could have impacted the measured distance. But even some of the other short hitters seemed to be averaging more than this today.

> @agolf1 said:

> Chun with an OK round, but another very short day off the tee at 233 yards. She did miss a few more fairways than normal (9/14), which I guess could have impacted the measured distance. But even some of the other short hitters seemed to be averaging more than this today.

In Gee hit an errand shot of 211 yards at #4, which led to a bogey; her other drive at #17 was 255.

She shot -2 in spite of a double and a bogey; her putts per GIR was a scintillating 1.615.

She needs -6 or better to get back in contention; she has a 50-50 chance to do that.