LPGA rookie Minjee Lee from Down Under
comes out on top in Kingsmill Championship
FROM GOLFWEEK.COM
Final scores
Aussie Minjee Lee marked her ball on the fringe of the 16th green Sunday at the LPGA's Kingsmill Championship, hoping that she would be better able to read the putt in the Monday morning light and finish strong for her first LPGA win.
The rookie, of South Korean extraction, came back to the River Course at Kingsmill Resort Monday morning and three-putted from the fringe for bogey. It was not the start she had in mind, but she finished par-par, capping a 15-under 269 and winning by two shots over So Yeon Ryu.
"I didn't think that moment would come this year, so I'm stoked to have won," said the 18-year-old from Perth, Australia. "Just because I won in my rookie season, I feel like I could probably do it again. It gives me confidence that I can play and win out here."
The win was crucial for Lee, who missed her previously scheduled U.S. Open sectional qualifying tee time while finishing the Kingsmill Championship on Monday. Play was extended by a rain delay on Sunday, preventing the tournament from wrapping up before darkness set in at the course in Williamsburg, Virginia.
After the win, Lee was granted a spot in the U.S. Women's Open.
Alison Lee, an LPGA rookie who took third at 12 under, was not as fortunate. After she finished play in Williamsburg Monday morning, her tee time at the Richmond qualifier was scheduled about 30 minutes later.
Lee said that she hoped to fly out to California Monday night and attain special permission to qualify on the West Coast on Tuesday. The USGA announced Monday that it accommodated Lee's request and that she will play at Goose Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma, California.
Another rookie, Jing Yan, faced the same fate. Yan, whose plans to qualify are not clear, finished T-11.
Alison Lee and Minjee Lee (no relation) co-medalled at LPGA Q-School to earn their status on the tour, and the golfers are familiar with one another after amateur careers in which both reached the No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
"Her family and I are good friends, so to see a fellow friend do well today was exciting," said Alison Lee, who earned her best finish on the LPGA and second in the top five. "It was exciting and fun and a good battle out there for me."
Ryu gave Minjee Lee the biggest scare Monday morning, as she birdied three of her final four holes to reach 13 under. Fifty-four-hole leader Perrine Delacour, the 2009 British girls' open champion from Paris, placed fourth at 11 under, and Suzann Pettersen, Hyo Joo Kim and Paula Creamer tied for fifth at 10 under.
Catriona Matthew finished T8 on 276 with scores of 70,67, 73 and 66. She earned $28,994
Charley Hull did not do so well, finishing well down the field on 287 with scores of 71, 71, 71 and 74. She earned $2,748.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
269 Minjee Lee (Australia) 68 67 69 65 ($195,000)
271 Su Yeon Ryu (S Korea) 67 69 68 67 ($118,120)
272 Alison Lee (USA) 66 67 70 69 ($85,688)
273 Perrine Delacour (France) 67 68 67 71 ($66,286)
274 Suzann Pettersen (Norway) 72 65 69 68, Paula Creamer (US) 67 71 66 70 ($44,515 each).
SELECTED TOTALS
276 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) 70 67 73 66 (T8) ($28,994)
287 Charley Hull (England) 71 71 71 74 ($2,748).
Aussie Minjee Lee marked her ball on the fringe of the 16th green Sunday at the LPGA's Kingsmill Championship, hoping that she would be better able to read the putt in the Monday morning light and finish strong for her first LPGA win.
The rookie, of South Korean extraction, came back to the River Course at Kingsmill Resort Monday morning and three-putted from the fringe for bogey. It was not the start she had in mind, but she finished par-par, capping a 15-under 269 and winning by two shots over So Yeon Ryu.
"I didn't think that moment would come this year, so I'm stoked to have won," said the 18-year-old from Perth, Australia. "Just because I won in my rookie season, I feel like I could probably do it again. It gives me confidence that I can play and win out here."
The win was crucial for Lee, who missed her previously scheduled U.S. Open sectional qualifying tee time while finishing the Kingsmill Championship on Monday. Play was extended by a rain delay on Sunday, preventing the tournament from wrapping up before darkness set in at the course in Williamsburg, Virginia.
After the win, Lee was granted a spot in the U.S. Women's Open.
Alison Lee, an LPGA rookie who took third at 12 under, was not as fortunate. After she finished play in Williamsburg Monday morning, her tee time at the Richmond qualifier was scheduled about 30 minutes later.
Lee said that she hoped to fly out to California Monday night and attain special permission to qualify on the West Coast on Tuesday. The USGA announced Monday that it accommodated Lee's request and that she will play at Goose Creek Golf Club in Mira Loma, California.
Another rookie, Jing Yan, faced the same fate. Yan, whose plans to qualify are not clear, finished T-11.
Alison Lee and Minjee Lee (no relation) co-medalled at LPGA Q-School to earn their status on the tour, and the golfers are familiar with one another after amateur careers in which both reached the No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
"Her family and I are good friends, so to see a fellow friend do well today was exciting," said Alison Lee, who earned her best finish on the LPGA and second in the top five. "It was exciting and fun and a good battle out there for me."
Ryu gave Minjee Lee the biggest scare Monday morning, as she birdied three of her final four holes to reach 13 under. Fifty-four-hole leader Perrine Delacour, the 2009 British girls' open champion from Paris, placed fourth at 11 under, and Suzann Pettersen, Hyo Joo Kim and Paula Creamer tied for fifth at 10 under.
Catriona Matthew finished T8 on 276 with scores of 70,67, 73 and 66. She earned $28,994
Charley Hull did not do so well, finishing well down the field on 287 with scores of 71, 71, 71 and 74. She earned $2,748.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
269 Minjee Lee (Australia) 68 67 69 65 ($195,000)
271 Su Yeon Ryu (S Korea) 67 69 68 67 ($118,120)
272 Alison Lee (USA) 66 67 70 69 ($85,688)
273 Perrine Delacour (France) 67 68 67 71 ($66,286)
274 Suzann Pettersen (Norway) 72 65 69 68, Paula Creamer (US) 67 71 66 70 ($44,515 each).
SELECTED TOTALS
276 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) 70 67 73 66 (T8) ($28,994)
287 Charley Hull (England) 71 71 71 74 ($2,748).
Labels: LPGA TOUR
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