It may be a weekend of mixed emotions for Cavan’s Leona Maguire as the 30-year-old did all she needed to do to ensure a spot at next weeks Tour Championship, but must feel as if she could have placed higher as she followed up Saturday’s even-par round with another on Sunday, to finish the weekend T52 at one-under.
Maguire’s lowest round of the week came on Friday where she posted a three-under-par 67 but the two-time LPGA winner seemed to lose that momentum over the weekend.
An early bogey at the par-4 second wasn’t the ideal start but Maguire scrambled well for the next couple of holes to take the turn at one-over for the day.
A birdie came at the par-3 12th after a dart of a tee shot but Maguire gave the shot back with a bogey at the par-3 15th shortly after. Maguire will be happy with her birdie at the last to remain even-par.
Maguire will need to find some form if she is to make a statement in next weekends Tour Championship as she was untidy in her iron play, hitting only 10 greens in regulation on Sunday.
Sweden’s Linn Grant sailed to a three stroke victory, showing great control of her game as she went 52 holes without a bogey, up until the final hole when it no longer mattered.
Grant posted a five-under-par final round to earn her second LPGA title on 19-under.
“There are weeks where everyone feels like their game is really good and there could potentially be a win. It’s just really nice to like see it go all the way and to really walk off 18 and be able to pat yourself on the shoulder and feel like I actually did it this week,” Grant said.
USA’s Jennifer Kupcho finished second on 16-under, also posting a five-under 65.
Gaby Lopez of Mexico birdied four of her last six holes for a 65 to finish third, one stroke behind Kupcho on 15-under.
Brooke Matthews made a hole-in-one with a 9-iron from 140 yards on the 12th hole to win a two-year lease on a Lamborghini Huracán. Two holes later, Matthews chipped in for eagle to finish T9. This finish gave Matthews enough points to just squeeze into the top-60 in the rankings.
Nataliya Guseva holed out with a gap wedge from 109 yards on the final hole for birdie, giving her a 68 that moved the Russian into the top 60.
Defending champion Nelly Korda, a three-time winner at Pelican Golf Club, started six shots behind and couldn’t keep pace with Grand. She closed with a 69 and tied for 15th.
The LPGA now travel to the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort, Tiburón Golf Club in Flordia for the final event of the season.
Leave a comment