Recovering Diaz now overflowing with confidence

The former Wake Forest athlete had ankle surgery last winter.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Laura Diaz's confidence was lost in the hospital, undergoing ankle surgery. That confidence was affected in decisions regarding her caddie.
"I didn't play for three months, and it's taken me a long time to recover," Diaz said of her December surgery, which stemmed from her college days at Wake Forest University.
"I lost confidence in that time period, and I've been working all year to get that back," she said.
Diaz may have found that long-lost treasure here in the Mahoning Valley.
Dangerous Diaz
The 29-year-old shot a 2-under-par 70 in the second round of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, moving within one shot of the lead Saturday at Squaw Creek Country Club.
"This was better than I had been playing," said Diaz, whose best finish this season is seventh. "There were two or three shots I was disappointed in, but overall it was a good score. I'll take it and go on tomorrow."
Diaz is tied with Moira Dunn, another New York native, at 5-under-par 139, behind co-leaders Young-A Yang and Michelle Estill.
"I think I'm close," admitted Diaz, who has two wins in six years on tour.
A lot of that optimism has to do with Diaz's caddie, Thad Kael. The two reunited this week following a two-year absence.
"Having a caddie back who has confidence in you helps my confidence," said Diaz, whose two wins came with Kael by her side. "It's shocking what a difference it makes when someone else believes in you. It helps you believe in yourself."
Diaz said her round, which included three birdies and a bogey, was not affected by the wet conditions. She teed off after the rain.
"I was lucky to play 18 holes with no rain. It really wasn't that wet out there," Diaz said. "They did a good job with the greens."
Consistent player
Dunn, 32, is seeking her first career victory, and she seems poised for the run. Two weeks ago at the U.S. Women's Open, she tied for seventh.
"I'm happy with the way I've been playing the ball all year," Dunn said. "Instead of just one good round or an average round, I've been putting rounds together."
She's done that so far in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, shooting an opening-round 70 to go with her 69.
"I'm hitting the putts I need to make. I hit some long ones to get under par," Dunn said. "I'm right there, so we'll see what happens tomorrow."
Dunn admitted to watching the leaderboard throughout her round, "to see if anyone was running away" with the tournament, she said.
Once she saw a controlled leaderboard and golfers bunched near the top, she felt more comfortable in playing her game.
"Nobody was going crazy out here," she said.
Dunn finished her round by battling to save par on No. 18. Her drive landed in the right rough, and she hit her approach shot onto the green's edge. She then made a tough two-putt for par.
"That par was really big to feel good about the round," Dunn said, "instead of thinking about a bogey."
richesson@vindy.com