LPGA Tour cards up for grabs at Epson Tour Championship

Gold Coast’s Robyn Choi – faces a big week – file photo

2023 LPGA Tour cards are up for grabs at this week’s Epson Tour Championship in Daytona Beach in Florida, with the leading ten players on the Epson Tour money list at the completion of this week’s event on their way to the LPGA Tour next season.

Victorian Gabi Ruffels is already guaranteed of a move to the next level courtesy of a magnificent season during which she has won on three occasions and been inside the top 6 on three other occasions.

Ruffels currently leads the money list and is one of three players who are assured of graduation irrespective of this week’s results.

For Queenslander, Robyn Choi, however, she faces an important week in her career. Currently 11th on the money list she is only US$200 behind the 10th place player and will likely need only a top 50 or so from the field of 108 to be assured of heading to the LPGA Tour.

The former University of Colorado golfer has been very consistent this season recording six top tens including a runner-up finish two starts ago.

New Zealand’s Amelia Garvey is currently 33rd on the list and likely needs to win this week to have any chance of gaining higher playing privileges next season and even that might not be enough.

Race for the Card Money List

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Europe again prevail on home soil


The successful European Team – Image courtesy of Rolex 

It was a week that had it all. A tearaway leader on day one, the spice and feistiness on display on day two and final day that kept the intrigue and match result alive for much longer than most would have imagined to be the case, but the Ryder Cup seldom fails to deliver and this week was no exception.

In the end, the Europeans won by five points, 16½to 11½, a result that appeared inevitable at the completion of day two but halfway through the twelve singles matches, a number of different scenarios were still in play and the impossible did at times seem possible, if remotely.

It would take until Tommy Fleetwood’s short birdie putt was conceded in the 11th match of the day at the 16th to ensure that the sought-after half point was secured, that the Europeans were assured of the 14½ points to regain the Cup. Fleetwood would go on to win the match 3&1.

They would eventually add points by Robert McIntyre and a half point by Shane Lowry to extend the margin to five and secure their 13th win in 19 encounters since their first in 1985.

It has been a phenomenal record for a European team that has typically been the underdogs (mathematically at least) heading into each event but their capacity to gel as a team and defy the odds on occasions has turned this contest into not only golf’s greatest event but arguably one of the world’s greatest sporting battles.

A star team has often been capable of overcoming a team of stars and this week once again proved that to be the case. Both captains did a good job but Europe’s Luke Donald’s emotional post-event interview told the story of his passion for task.

And so, by the time the Americans get to Adare Manor in Ireland in four years’ time, it will be a massive 34 years since they have won on European soil and there is every reason to believe that stat will be extended further in County Kildare.

The leading points scorer for the Europeans was Rory McIlroy with 4 points while for the USA side debutante Max Homa led the way with 3½.

SCORES

 

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Travis Smyth moves to second on Asian Tour Order of Merit

Travis Smyth – file photo courtesy of Getty Images

New South Wales golfer, Travis Smyth, has moved to second position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit following his share of third place at the Mercuries Taiwan Masters yesterday.

For Smyth, it continues a fine record in Taiwan having won the Yeandger TPC Masters, twelve months ago, finished runner-up in that same event last week and now 3rd here.

Smyth won US$60,000 for his finish and moves behind only American Andy Ogletree on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

It was Smyth’s 5th top ten of the year (three of those 3 finishes) and continues a successful 18 months during which good performances in the Asian Tour’s lucrative International Series events and access to several LIV Tour events have provided a healthy bank balance for the 28-year-old.

Smyth gets to play another $US 2 million International Series event in Singapore this coming week with a further four events remaining on the 2023 Asian Tour schedule beyond.

New Zealand’s Ben Campbell was the next best of the Australasians in the field, finishing in a share of 8th place after leading into the weekend, but for Campbell it was his best finish since a runner-up finish at the New Zealand Open in March.

Scott Hend was 11th, Todd Sinnott 22nd, Jack Thompson 29th and Josh Younger 54th.

SCORES

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Hannah Green benefits from break to contend in Arkasas

Hannah Green – photo Alex Slitz Getty Images 

Hannah Green’s consecutive opening rounds of 65 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers has left her just two shots from the 36-hole leader and with just one round to go in the 54 hole event, she is well-placed to contend for her fourth LPGA Tour title.

Green’s form in 2023 has been a roller coaster with a win earlier in the year and a recent 4th placing although, in three of her last four starts, she has not made the weekend but, despite a poor record in this event, which has seen her miss her two previous cuts, she finds herself very much in the mix.

“I’ve actually never played well at Walmart,” said Green. “I don’t have a good record of making the Sunday. You can’t really think about that. You just got to try and hit every shot. I know it sounds boring and everyone says that, but that’s what you’re trying to do out there.

It’s hard because the scoring is so low you feel like if you’re not under par early you’re really going to fall behind. Tomorrow, even if I am a couple back, you just never know what can happen. Someone could shoot honestly 10-under par and just come from nowhere.”

Green has recently returned from a three-week break back in Perth which has enabled her to recharge the batteries to some extent.

“I did decide to take Cincinnati off so I could have three solid weeks in Australia. I’ve always known that’s always good for my game usually, having a bit of time off. I feel like when you have an off-season I come out performing pretty well.

“I think making sure that I had time away from the game was the most important thing — even if I spent all three weeks away from the golf course.”

Green trails Hae Ran Ryu by two shots, the Korean yet toi win an LPGA Tour event.

Grace Kim, Karis Davidson and Lydia Ko are the next best of the Australasians in a share of 36th place, Ko slipping from her overnight share of 2nd place, while Su Oh is 47th and Stephanie Kyriacou 55th.

SCORES

 

 

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