By: Max Bechtoldt
Alexa Pano, the 20-year-old from the Boston area, had a terrific Friday round at The Annika driven by Gainbridge, for the most part.
Seeking her second-career victory, Pano birdied four of her first seven holes before a bogey on the par four eighth. She caught fire on the back nine with birdies on 10, 11, 14, 14 and 17 before stepping up to the par four 18.
After a well placed drive in the fairway, Pano hit her second shot left and long, avoiding the water on the right side of the green, but leaving herself a difficult chip. While her father and caddie said the shot looked harder than it was, she still found the water behind the pin. She ended her round with a double bogey, still putting her at a good spot at -7, with the lead at the time of her round’s completion, but disappointing regardless.
Pano was precise off the tee all day, hitting 13 out of 14 fairways. She hit a solid 13 greens as well and converted once she was on the putting surface. Pano had just 23 putts for the round and has only had 47 for the week so far.
Pano first won on the LPGA Tour in 2023, her rookie year, in Ireland at the ISPS Handa World Invitational.
