Having child gives Leta Lindley a new perspective on life

She now is playing golf for fun, and had fun with a 70 to move in contention.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Leta Lindley has a new perspective on life and golf after giving birth to her first child only four months ago.
Credit Cole Plagmann, Lindley's first child with husband Matt Plagmann, for providing a life-altering influence on the 10-year professional golfer.
"Golf is secondary now," said Lindley, 32. "It's not life and death anymore. I'm just trying to enjoy myself."
In the running
She certainly did Saturday after shooting a 2-under-par 70 in the second round of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, putting her in contention at Squaw Creek Country Club.
"I surely wasn't expecting that," Lindley said of her round, which left her at 3-under 141 for the tournament.
"I've seen other girls come back and play well [after giving birth], but I didn't know how that would affect me -- getting up at 2 in the morning for a feeding," she added.
Just before Thanksgiving last year, Lindley, of West Palm Beach, Fla., made the decision to put golf aside for a while.
"I put the clubs in the garage and let them collect a lot of dust," she said. "I didn't miss it. I stayed home and enjoyed being pregnant. After nine straight years [on tour], I welcomed the break."
Lindley is playing in just her fourth event of the season, having tied for 21st and 23rd and missing the cut in another tournament. When she tees it up now, she maintains a positive mindset.
"He's helped my attitude," Lindley said of her son.
She looked sharp Saturday, opening her round with a birdie. But two three-putts -- on Nos. 4 and 9 -- hampered her front side.
"It was annoying in the beginning," said Lindley, referring to morning rain that delayed the tournament for two hours. "It was tough to get the speed of the greens early on."
That rain was nothing new to the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.
"When you come to Youngstown, it's raining every year," Lindley said. "It's kind of a sloshfest."
Making a difference
Lindley rallied with a birdie at No. 11 to erase memories of her three-putt on 9.
"I felt like that turned things around," she said.
To finish her round, Lindley added birdies at Nos. 12 and 17.
"I had three birdies on the back side, and I don't consider that the easier side," she said.
Speaking with reporters after her round, Lindley was all smiles. She was pleasant and carefree, talking about the pictures she keeps of Cole.
Her evening plans included picking Cole up from day-care and fulfilling dinner plans before returning today for the final round and shooting for her first career victory.
richesson@vindy.com