Paola Moreno one behind leaders at Symetra Tour Guardian Retirement
MANATEE -- Paola Moreno has been on and off the LPGA tour for six years. She is looking for consistency and knows one good day can lead to one good tournament and the rest will take care of itself.
She also knows the greens at the Sara Bay Country Club are a tough place to shift momentum, especially on a windy day, which is why Moreno is feeling optimistic.
Battling gusts that reached 26 mph, the native of Cali, Colombia, showed grit to shoot a 1-under-par 71 that put her one stroke behind the leaders after the first round of the Guardian Retirement Championship Tournament at Sara Bay. American Brittany Altomare and Canadian Sara-Maude Juneau shot 2-under 70.
"The greens here are very challenging. This course challenges every part of your game," Moreno said. "You really have to be on your A game with your wedges and short game and putting. And the wind makes it even worse. You have to aim differently and do some things differently."
Moreno had birdies on the par-3 eighth, par-4 14th and par-5 18th. She had bogeys on the par-4 fifth and par-3 13th.
"I putted really well and I thought I played decent and made a really good shot on eight. The back nine was my front nine and it was very windy. I have been on this tour for many years and I know most of the courses so that helps," Moreno said.
The former University of Southern California All-American has all the motivation she needs to get her game on track. Simply put, she wants her LPGA card back.
"You always work hard and change your game every year. It is what it is and now it feels good," Moreno said. "The key to this weekend is putting. If you want to win this tournament, you've got to make putts and hit the greens; that is pretty much what I feel I should be doing for the rest of the week and we will see what happens."
Katherine Perry doesn't have Moreno's experience, but she saw what would've been a very good day spoiled on the last hole. The University of North Carolina graduate had a double bogey on the 18th that left her at 2 over.
"I was even going into the last hole and hit it out of bounds, but I made a good save and it could've been worse." Perry said. "I feel pretty good overall. The last hole just got me,"
Despite the tough greens and blustery day Perry loves playing the course.
"It's a good test of golf and that's what I like," Perry said. "The greens slope down from the sides so you don't want to be above the hole and face the potential of putting it off the green. You have to be very careful about your placement on the greens.
"You have to be more conservative on certain shots and kind of know where the red light is. I like it because I like to think more on the golf course on this makes you do that."
Last year was Perry's first on the Symetra Tour and her biggest thing was getting accustomed to playing so much compared to college.
"I learned a lot. It was big adjustment trying to figure out the routine and playing week to week so much," Perry said. "I am more comfortable this year knowing the courses and not feeling I have to kill myself You have know what is good for your body and your game.
Alan Dell, Herald sports columnist/writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter@ADellSports
This story was originally published April 22, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Paola Moreno one behind leaders at Symetra Tour Guardian Retirement ."