LPGA Northwest Arkansas Championship report

Cornwell soaks up trip home

Lisa Cornwell hits from the eighth tee on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers during the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.
Lisa Cornwell hits from the eighth tee on Thursday, June 25, 2015, at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers during the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship.

ROGERS -- Lisa Cornwell has found a home after years of working for local television stations and the Big Ten Network.

The Fayetteville native joined the Golf Channel's studio broadcast team in January 2014 but said being on-site at a tournament such as this weekend's LPGA Northwest Arkansas Championship really gets her blood pumping.

Past champions

Past winners of the Northwest Arkansas Championship:

YEAR; WINNER

2014 Stacy Lewis

2013 Inbee Park

2012 Ai Miyazato

2011 Yani Tseng

2010 Yani Tseng

2009 Jiyai Shin

2008 Seon Hwa Lee

"Growing up a golfer and appreciating the game the way that I do, nothing beats being inside the ropes," Cornwell said Thursday at Pinnacle Country Club, site of this week's tournament. "It still amazes me that sometimes we're able to get inside and walk with those players and go ask them questions. To watch them play, that is still the most amazing thing.

"It doesn't matter what tour or tournament. You're going to see a lot of really good golf. I love that the most."

Cornwell graduated from Fayetteville High School in 1992 and the University of Arkansas in 1997. She said despite not being able to attend every Northwest Arkansas Championship since it began in 2007, her parents wouldn't miss Saturday and Sunday of tournament week.

"My dad has a spot on the 16th hole he loves," Cornwell said. "This place is special to me and my family. To be able to come out to see how great this event is for the LPGA Tour and how well Arkansas -- especially Northwest Arkansas -- supports it makes me really proud."

Cornwell said she is impressed with the facilities the UA currently uses for the golf programs. It's a far cry from when she was a Razorback.

"There are things we didn't have because they didn't exist back then," Cornwell said. "Everything is so state-of-the art with all the aspects they can utilize. It's amazing."

Settling in

Karen Stupples (Arkansas State) got a taste of reporting for the British Broadcast Corporation in 2007 while playing on the LPGA Tour, and that experience has continued to pay off.

Now she is in her second season as an on-course and in-studio commentator for the Golf Channel, and she admitted that being on television is far better than the grind of trying to earn a paycheck on the golf course.

"I just don't want to compete anymore," Stupples said. "I am happy playing golf, but it's nice to be able to pick who I play golf with, and when I want to play golf, and how many holes I want to play.

"I just want to play golf instead of having to play golf to make a living."

Stupples, 42, has lived in Orlando, Fla., for the past 17 years. After concluding her college career at Florida State and working with a coach and trainer in Orlando, she knew that was where she wanted to settle down.

It also makes it easier for the trans-Atlantic flights for her and her family who still live in her native England.

"I didn't know how things were going to work out last year," Stupples said. "I figured I was out there on a trial. They were putting me in different places to see where I fit. I am finding a little place on the LPGA, and every once in a while I get to talk about men's golf too, which is always fun and a good challenge."

Back on track?

Morgan Pressel made it to the LPGA Tour in 2006, earning her card on her first attempt when she tied for sixth at the final qualifying tournament of 2005 when she was just 17.

Success followed quickly for Pressel, who became the youngest player in LPGA history to win a major title (18 years, 10 months) at the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship, which put her at a career-high fourth in the world rankings.

Pressel, 27, has had 11 other top-10 finishes in majors, but her only other championship on tour came at the 2008 Kapalua Classic.

She said the mental and physical fight from different ailments has been her biggest challenge as she tries to get back among the tour's elite players.

"I battled some injuries and that was challenging for a couple years, and those were definitely my worst years I had on Tour," Pressel said. "Looking back I wish I probably hadn't played through them and had healed before I tried to continue to play."

Pressel was ranked 41st a year ago in the Rolex World Golf Rankings leading up to the Northwest Arkansas Championship. She sits 19th going into today's opening round at Pinnacle Country Club. Two top-five finishes in her past three tournaments, including a tie for fifth at the Women's PGA Championship, have given the Boca Raton, Fla., native some added confidence this summer.

"I know my weaknesses," Pressel said. "I know what I have to improve on. It's a very tough competition out here and it's not easy, but I work my hardest every day to improve that little bit every time and hopefully it will all come together."

Good Marks

Arkansas sophomore Samantha Marks did something no Razorbacks golfer had done since 2009 when she earned a spot in the Northwest Arkansas Championship out of the Monday qualifier.

Marks, 21, joined former Arkansas golfer Kelli Shean as the only Razorbacks to earn their way into the tournament field when she won Monday's qualifier with an even-par 71.

Marks said she is confident enough to play well against the LPGA's best this weekend.

"I'm ready for a good week, and I think my game is where it needs to be," said Marks, who transferred to Arkansas last year from the University of North Carolina. "I was really excited to play the way that I did and to earn my spot in."

Sports on 06/26/2015

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