ROGERS - Spain’s Beatriz Recari has earned almost $1.5 million on the LPGA Tour, made the cut in all 27 events in 2012 and won the Kia Classic earlier this year.
Recari, 26, who resides in Miami, also speaks four languages - Spanish, English, French and Norwegian - and now she wants to learn Japanese.
“I’ve always wanted to learn an Asian language ever since I was little,” Recari said. “When I went to Japan for the first time I just fell in love with the culture, with the people. They’re so nice, polite, and there’s so many things that I love about the culture.”
Recari isn’t stopping with just Japanese. With golf in the 2016 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, she said she also wants to try to master Portuguese.
“I was thinking about learning Portuguese because it’s so close to Spanish and Rio is coming soon, sooner than we think,” she said. “So, it might help for those two weeks that we’re going to be in Rio.”Christmas in June
The LPGA players have made the rounds around the 17th green.
They have handed out numerous items such as hats, gloves and different kinds of balls to spectators gathered around the green.
Former University of Arkansas golfer Stacy Lewis has done her part as well, throwing out key chains and Razorbacks gear in between Hog calls.
Lewis said Saturday that fans can expect to see some footballs tossed into the crowd today. And while she wouldn’t give it all away, she did mention a bet with her caddy that will involve more souvenirs today when she’s in the final group.
“You’ll see what it is on 17,” Lewis said after completing her second round. “I think that’s what motivated me more than anything today was I wanted to be in that final group going into tomorrow.”
One of the more impressive player-fan interactions came late Friday afternoon when a young fan waited for Spain’s Belen Mozo to autograph a golf ball coming off the 17th green.
Mozo did the young girl one better, returning to her bag and pulling out a white, child-sized golf shirt. She autographed it, then handed it to the girl who looked to be about 5 years old.
“I think you might like this better,” Mozo said.
Lopez hears cheers
Sophomore Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a tough time this weekend playing in the Northwest Arkansas Championship on a sponsor’s exemption.
The 19-year-old made her first birdie on her 21st hole.
Having started the back nine Saturday, Lopez made the initial birdie on No. 12, then added two more on Nos.
16 and 17, the latter earning her a Hog call after she stuck her tee shot within 15 feet. She earned one of the louder ovations of the day when she drained the birdie putt.
Meena, myself and I
Meena Lee was forced to play the final holes by herself Saturday after playing partners Jennifer Rosales and Victoria Tanco withdrew during the round from the last group of the day.
Jeong Jang and Kayla Mortellaro exited as well Saturday.
World No. 11 Cristie Kerr withdrew from the event after playing eight holes Friday.
She’s all right
Singer, songwriter and guitarist Kenny Loggins played a concert Saturday night in Bentonville in conjunction with the Northwest Arkansas Championship.
Spain’s Beatriz Recari was asked Saturday afternoon if she knew whoLoggins was.
“Gosh, no, I don’t,” she said.
When told it was a free concert and that she should go, Recari said she would talk to her manager.
When asked if she ever watched the popular golf movie Caddyshack, in which Loggins sang several songs including the well-known “I’m All Right,” Recari smiled and then said she knew who he was.
Missing the cut
Prominent names missing the even-par cut included world No. 38 Brittany Lincicome (1 over), world No. 24 Carlota Ciganda (2 over), Michelle Wie (2 over), five-time Solheim Cup member Pat Hurst (2 over) and Se Ri Pak (3 over).
Today’s tee times a-Denotes amateur
8:38 A.M. Christina Kim, Momoko Ueda 8:46 A.M. Julieta Granada, Katie M. Burnett 8:54 A.M. Kathleen Ekey, Paola Moreno 9:02 A.M. Chella Choi, Ayako Uehara 9:10 A.M. Jee Young Lee, Sarah Jane Smith 9:18 A.M. Danielle Kang, Amanda Blumenherst 9:26 A.M. Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Maria Hjorth 9:34 A.M. Felicity Johnson, Stacy Prammanasudh 9:42 A.M. Sandra Gal, Hee-Won Han 9:50 A.M. Sun Young Yoo, Na Yeon Choi 9:58 A.M. Victoria Elizabeth, Dewi Claire Schreefel 10:06 A.M. Veronica Felibert, Mo Martin 10:22 A.M. Lindsey Wright, Catriona Matthew 10:30 A.M. Gerina Piller, Becky Morgan 10:38 A.M. Jennifer Johnson, Hee Young Park 10:46 A.M. Jane Park, Karen Stupples 10:54 A.M. Jenny Shin, Lizette Salas
11:02 A.M. Azahara Munoz, Caroline Hedwall 11:10 A.M. Jiyai Shin, Natalie Gulbis 11:18 A.M. Candie Kung, Jennifer Song 11:26 A.M. Anna Nordqvist, Meena Lee 11:34 A.M. Nicole Castrale, Lisa McCloskey 11:42 A.M. Cindy LaCrosse, Karine Icher 11:58 A.M. Shanshan Feng, Amy Yang 12:06 P.M. Alison Walshe, Sara-Maude Juneau 12:14 P.M. Angela Stanford, Haeji Kang 12:22 P.M. Yani Tseng, Suzann Pettersen 12:30 P.M. Brittany Lang, Morgan Pressel 12:38 P.M. Mina Harigae, Ai Miyazato 12:46 P.M. Sarah Kemp, Christel Boeljon 12:54 P.M. Moriya Jutanugarn, Paula Creamer
1:02 P.M. Juli Inkster, Brooke Pancake 1:18 P.M. a-Lydia Ko, Mika Miyazato 1:26 P.M. Inbee Park, Ji Young Oh 1:34 P.M. I.K. Kim, Pornanong Phatlum 1:42 P.M. Chie Arimura, So Yeon Ryu 1:50 P.M. Beatriz Recari, Stacy Lewis
Quote of the day “Oh no. Oh no.”
- A fan at No. 18 as Stacy Lewis watched her second approach shot roll off the green, which led to a bogey
Today’s weather HIGH 89 LOW 69 THE FORECAST Sunny with a few afternoon clouds. Wind south at 10-20 miles per hour. 10 percent chance of rain.
Sports, Pages 28 on 06/23/2013