Maria Fassi had a busy homecoming week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G, but she’s enjoying every minute of it. Fassi officially launched its new foundation and clinic series, Fassi’s Friends, and hosted its first event at Topgolf in Rogers, Ark., Followed by another on Thursday afternoon at Pinnacle Country Club. Fassi said 50 kids came out the day before the first round and it’s the off-course experiences that added comfort in a familiar setup.
“Randy, he’s the CEO of First Tee and he made me some golf balls with the Fassi’s Friends logo this week and I played with them. Strangely, I put my ball down on the first tee on Friday without really thinking about the logo or something. When I look at the ball I can see the logo right there so it was a pretty cool reminder for the kids to just play, ”said Fassi, who will sign up to her foundation for every birdie and eagle of her career. “I’ve always enjoyed playing for something bigger than me. I think that made it pretty cool and happy to see the Golf come along too. “
Fassi, who lives 20 minutes from the track, finished in the top 20 with 67-68, just five strokes from the lead with Sunday ahead of her. The Razorback alums, surrounded by family and friends, said she and her caddy Ivan Galdame would just stick to the game plan.
“Ivan and I just know what to do on this golf course. We both know it very well. I think we have a great schedule for every day. I don’t think much will change, ”said Fassi, whose best result at the 2020 event is a draw. I trust what we have and I just have to keep doing it. Hopefully we can publish a low value tomorrow and see what happens. “
CHICKEN AND WAFFLES THE KEY FOR LEE6
A bogey-free 63 from Jeongeun Lee6 in the second round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G moved the Major Champion from a tie to 44th place in the top five. With 18 holes remaining in Rogers, Ark., The total is 10 under par.
“I kept [hitting] Greens, every hole, and then I had a lot of birdie chances, ”said Lee6, who usually hit 23 of 26 fairways and 35 greens. “I am satisfied with my results. I played well today and feel very comfortable swinging. I will keep this up and focus on the process, not the results. “
Lee6 competed for the first time in her career at the Pinnacle Country Club and attributed her previous success to the discovery of a southern kitchen item that could become a new favorite.
“I had chicken and waffles. It was really good, ”said Lee6. “I’m playing this course for the first time. I didn’t play in 2019 [or 2020], that’s why I like this course because the conditions are really good and there is a lot of good food. “