New Zealand’s Jayden Ford leads Australasians at US Junior

Jayden Ford – photo USGA Chris Keane

New Zealander Jayden Ford has recorded a second consecutive round of 68 to finish in a share of second place in the 36 hole qualifying phase of the US Junior Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon in Oregon.

With 264 players playing the two venue, 36 hole qualifying event, to have finished runner-up against some of the world’s best juniors is an outstanding achievement.

The event now turns to the match play for the next few days and Ford will be joined by Australians Harvey Young and Jeffrey Guan in the field of 64 to tackle the knockout matches of the event.

Ford, from the Judgeford Golf Club north of Wellington, earlier this year won the Avondale Amateur Championship in Sydney, and in 2016, at the age of just 12, finished as the 3rd qualifier at the New Zealand Amateur Championship.

His round of 3 under today was spoiled only by a double bogey at the 14th hole but there were also six birdies in his impressive round.

“I thought it would be good to get over here through the summer, said Ford. “Obviously, it is winter back home so there is not much going on. I wanted to come here and get some exposure and get more experience playing international golf.”

Yesterday’s co leader, Harvey Young is the next best of the three Australasians to make it into the field of 64 for the match play stage. Young, after sharing the lead on day one, slipped to a round of 73 today but did recover from an early double bogey and is in a share of 11th at the completion of the 36 holes.

Sydney’s Jeffrey Guan is through and tied for 34th as the event heads into match play.

Guan is a dual Australian Junior Champion, the Australian Golf Club Champion at age 14 and runner-up at the Australian Amateur Championship to name just a few of his impressive list of results.

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Australia’s Harvey Young shares US Junior lead

Harvey Young plays to the 17th today – photo Chris Keane USGA

Australasians are faring well after the opening round of the US Junior Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Club in Bandon in Oregon.

Melbourne’s Harvey Young leads along with Paraguay’s Erich Fortlage, the pair recording opening rounds of 66 to leads the way by one.

Young and Fortlage played the Bandon Trails Course, one of two layouts being used in the 36 hole strokeplay phase of the championship to establish the leading 64 qualifiers to advance to match play.

The day began with bright sunshine and temperatures reaching the low 60s on the Oregon coast. The winds, which are so much a part of the story here, gusted as high as 20 miles per hour before they were replaced by late-afternoon fog that made visibility challenging for the final groups.

“On [hole] 13, the par 5, it started to get bad and then it got worse and worse,” said Young of the fog. “I said to [my caddie] Daniel [Kitayama], it was one of the most enjoyable rounds I’ve had just because I’ve never played in anything like this before.”

This is Young’s first trip to the United States to play golf. He arrived on May 31 and competed in the Dogwood Invitational in Atlanta, Ga.; the International Junior Masters in East Aurora, N.Y.; and the Porter Cup in Lewiston, N.Y.; as well as a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier on June 23 at Huntsville Golf Club in Dallas, Pa., where he posted a bogey-free 71 to garner one of the two available spots.

“If I woke up and said, ‘You’d shoot even,’ I’d go back to sleep,” said Young of surpassing his expectations. “So having six [strokes] better than that is pretty good.”

New Zealander Jayden Ford from Wellington was round in 67 to be tied for 5th and two off the lead.

Gold Coast golfer Kai Kumulainen also did well with an opening round of 70 to be tied for 18th.

Their task will be to ensure they are inside the top 64 at the completion of tomorrow’s second round in order to advance to the match play phase of the event.

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Karrie Webb turns back the clock to win Senior LPGA


Karrie Webb – photo Legends Tour

Karrie Webb’s rivalry with her long-time adversary in regular LPGA golf, Annika Sorenstam, continued this week with the Australian emerging as the winner by four shots over Sorenstam to claim the Senior LPGA Championship at the Salina Country Club in Salina in Kansas.

Webb’s final round of 67 saw her edge clear, an eagle by her at the 14th hole important in the final analysis as at that point the pair were separated by just one shot.

The pair have accumulated a total of seventeen major titles in regular LPGA golf (Sorenstam 10 and Webb 7) so this week’s event continued the rivalry of two of the female game’s greatest players.

Webb has played two events on the LPGA Tour in 2022 after entering semi-retirement a couple of seasons ago but she again displayed the great game which saw her as one of the dominant female golfers through the 1990’s and 2000’s.

Her last major title in regular golf came when winning her 7th and final event at that level at the then Kraft Nabisco event in California in 2006.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had to make putts down the stretch to win a golf tournament,” laughed Webb. “So the mouth was getting dry and the little putts were seeming a little bit longer.

“I’m not used to playing golf with adrenaline. It was hard to know how far I was hitting it, so it was a bit of a guessing game, but I think I did pretty good overall with it.”

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Lydia Ko’s late charge falls just short at Evian Championship


Lydia Ko begins her round today – photo Stuart Franklin Getty Images

New Zealand’s Lydia Ko made a bold late bid to win her second Amundi Evian Championship in Evian les Bains in France, a final round of 66 and a total of 269 (15 under) falling just two short of the eventual winner, Brooke Henderson.

Ko began the final round seven shots behind Henderson and appeared to be treading water until she reached the 9th hole which she birdied and then followed up with three further birdies before reaching the reachable par 5 last.

A stunning approach there left her 14 feet behind the hole and the putt for eagle would have given her a share of the lead at that point and with Henderson only just recovering from early round struggles back on the golf course, her chance to stake her claim for the title looked good.

The putt never looked like dropping however and eventually Henderson would birdie three holes late in her round including one at the last to win by one over LPGA rookie Sophia Schubert with Ko in a five-way tie for 3rd place.

Ko wins another US$283,000, the missed opportunity at the last costing her not only a potential chance at the title but a lot of money given that a two way share of second place would have yielded close to US$500,000.

“I knew that I needed to hole it,” said Ko referring to the missed opportunity at the last. “I think 18, the tee box is pushed forward, so I’m average to just above average in driving distance and I got driver, kind of chip 5-iron in.

“Obviously, some of the girls coming in are quite long hitters. If they do hit the fairways it’s a shorter one in.

“So, yeah, I knew that I needed to make it. Honestly, I hit a good stroke and the speed was right. Just under-read. It and I feel like it was very marginal today. Like some that were like a little high or a little low.

“You know, it’s like small things, right, that gets you to be the one hoisting the trophy, and then the one that’s finishing a few shots behind.

“So I think that was really it. Other than that, all I can do is be committed and hit good shots and good putts, and if they go in, great. If they don’t, can’t do anything about it.”

Henderson earns US$1 million for her victory, her 13th on the LPGA Tour and her second major.

“Amazing,” said a very relieved Henderson. “Like you said, it was a long day and I put myself in a position I didn’t really want to be in. Started off kind of poorly.

“But to be able to bounce back on the back nine really means a lot. To get that many birdies the last five holes or so was really big.

“Obviously to make that putt on 18 was just a huge relief so I didn’t have to play that hole again. Just super excited to have this trophy and to be a second-time major champion.”

Of the other Australasians Stephanie Kyriacou and Hannah Green tied for 31st, defending champion Minjee Lee was 43rd and Sarah Kemp 54th.

Brooke Henderson – 13th LPGA Tour trophy – photo Stuart Franklin Getty Images

 

 

 

 

 

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Alker finishes 3rd behind Darren Clarke at Gleneagles


Darren Clarke joins a select group to win both Open Championships – photo Getty Images

New Zealand’s Steve Alker has finished 3rd two shots behind the winner, Darren Clarke, at the Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Alker finished with a final round of even par but, on a day disrupted for over two hours by rain, Alker will rue a putter which deserted him in his time of need.

A three putt from lengthy range for par at the last typified a day in which plenty of chances went begging for the 50-year-old but it was yet another fine finish at this level, adding to the two wins, two runner-up finishes and three thirds he already had to his name on the Champions Tour this season.

Alker will move even further clear of Steve Stricker on the Charl Schwab standings, Stricker not playing in this week’s event. But the three putt at the last proved costly as instead of finishing in a two way share of the runner-up place, he found himself in a six way tie for third, the par at the last effectively costing him around US$100,000.

His lead in the Charl Schwab standings however will now extend to nearly US$915,000 over second placed Stricker.

For Clarke, however, he becomes just the 4th player to win the Open and Senior Open Championships, joining the likes of Sir Bob Charles, Gary Player and Tom Watson in doing so.

“I’ve made no secret of the fact that I wanted to win this more than anything,” said a delighted Clarke.

“From when I turned 50, this is the one you wanted to win, so I could set it beside the other one. Pretty good feeling right now.

“Very privileged to get my name on The Open trophy and the Claret Jug, and now to get my name on this one as well and go beside some legends of the game. I feel very humbled and very honoured.

“Not that many people have done it before. And last week, I was very fortunate to spend a little bit of time with my old coach, Pete Cowen, as well on the range at St Andrews.

“Last week didn’t quite go so well. He was trying to get me to do a couple of things and didn’t quite work in. You know, he helped me win the main Open, as well as Ewan, and he’s helped me win this one, too. He just got me with a more simple swing thought and I was able to get out of my own way and I was able to do it. To join that illustrious company is very special.

“This [the trophy] doesn’t hold as much (laughter) but I’ll have a few celebratory drinks tonight. As I said, to win the tournament I always wanted to win, The Open Championship, and then to win this one as a senior, this is the one I wanted to win more than anything. I feel.

“Very fortunate to have been able to have done it. Fulfilling your dreams is a very lucky thing, and I’ve been able to do it a few times in my career.”

Of the other Australasians in the field Stuart Appleby finished 19th after a final round of 74, Peter O’Malley did well to finish 20th, Richard Green was 41st, John Senden 47th and Michael Campbell 66th.

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Alker moves within one at Gleneagles

Steve Alker after his recent Senior PGA win – will he be making another speech tomorrow? – photo PGA of America

New Zealand’s Steve Alker has dominated the PGA Tour Champions in 2022 and tonight he has an opportunity to add further to his amazing year.

The 50 year old has quietly gone about his business at the Senior Open Championship and after a third round of 66 in, at times, damp conditions he has moved within one of the leaders Darren Clarke and Paul Broadhurst and appears likely to challenge for the title and his second senior major in the final round of the event at Gleneagles in Scotland.

Alker is tied just one shot behind the lead with recent PGA Tour Champions winner, Jerry Kelly, but also just two further back are such names as Colin Montgomerie and Padraig Harrington with Bernhard Langer another shot back, Harrington having won the recent US Senior Open.

“Very happy, back nine got some rain, it was cooling down, a little bit of wind,” said Alker. “Made a few more birdies today which was the key and just putted nicely. Very happy.”

Tomorrow is shaping as classic shootout between several legendary figures in the game and Alker, who is rapidly becoming a legendary himself in over fifties golf.

Alker leads the PGA Tour Champions’ Charl Schwab standings by a massive margin over Steve Stricker after a season which has already seen him record three wins, two second and three third place finishes, one of the wins a major when successful at the Senior PGA Championship.

Australia’s Stuart Appleby is also well enough placed at 6 under and just three from the lead, a third round of 67 appearing more promising with three early birdies but he is very much still in contention.

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Darren Clarke leads at Gleneagles Steve Alker heads Australasians


Darren Clarke – leads by two – photo Getty Images

The Senior Open Championship at Gleneagles in Scotland has reached its halfway stage and it is the 2011 Open Champion Darren Clarke who has taken the lead in one of senior golf’s major championships.

Clarke leads by two over American Scott Parel while recent PGA Tour Champions winner, Jerry Kelly, is another shot back in third place.

53 year old Clarke, has three PGA Tour Champions victories to his name, but has played poorly to date in 2022, added a 67 to his opening 65 to open up a gap heading into the weekend.

Steve Alker heads the eleven Australasians in the field, the leader of the Charl Schwab standings on the PGA Tour Champions adding a second successive 68 to be just four from the lead and tied for 11th.

Stuart Appleby is another shot back at 3 under par after a second round of 67, John Senden one behind Appleby, Richard Green at 1 under and in 27th place, Peter O’Malley 37th and Michael Campbell 47th.

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Australasians struggling to keep pace with Henderson at Evian


Lydia Ko – seven off the pace of leader Brooke Henderson – photo Stuart Franklin LPGA / Getty Images

Lydia Ko remains as the leading Australasian heading into round three of the Amundi Evian Championship, adding a second round of 69 to share 11th place as the event heads into the weekend in Evian Les Bain in France.

Ko finds herself seven shots behind Canada’s Brooke Henderson who leads by three over Nelly Korda.

“Yeah, I just had one bad hole and just a couple loose shots,” said Ko. “Other than that, it was pretty solid. Hopefully keep the positives and move on to tomorrow.

“I think it’s meant to rain tomorrow, so obviously the course is going to play a little bit differently because of that. So just I think just kind of play strategically with the conditions that we have.

“I feel like I’ve played in all sorts of different weather here, rain, winds, hail, sun. Yeah, hopefully that all comes together. I know that I played this course with like very different kind of games. Hitting it much longer that’s last few times I played compared to before.”

“We played in September where it’s a little bit softer and cooler as well.

“I think the course itself has played very different. You’re just trying to play with what’s given, but playing smart and aggressive is also important.”

Sarah Kemp heads the Australians in the field, her round of 4 under 67 today having her in a share of 16th place.

“Kind of just fits my game pretty well,” said Kemp when asked to describe her effort. “It’s fairly tight. The rough is pretty long. The fairways are tight in that aspect.

“I hit a lot of hybrids and I’m pretty good with my hybrids, so it fits my eye well. I like the speed of the greens.

“Then obviously the view. This town is just super cool. It’s got a bit of a chill vibe to it. All of the above really.”

Defending champion Minjee Lee improved slightly on her slow start to the event to be tied for 30th at 3 under par but she is now 11 shots behind Henderson, although last year she was a massive ten shots behind the leader Jeongeun Lee6 at the halfway mark and managed to win the event in a playoff.

A birdie eagle finish to her round today assisted Lee’s cause but she has a lot of work to do.

Hannah Green also recovered from a slow start to her week with a second round of 68 to be at 2 under and tied for 42nd while Stephanie Kyriacou also made the cut at 1 under and is 54th.

But it is the brilliant Henderson who has taken a grip on the tournament thus far. Consecutive rounds of 64, including three consecutive birdies to finish today, has her with a three shot advantage as she chases a second major title to go with her 2016 KPMG PGA Championship.

“You know, it feels really nice to get off to a fast start in a major championship,” said Henderson. “It feels like it’s been a while. To get it this far under par is really awesome.

“And I feel like I’m hitting the ball really well, which is nice. Making some putts. So two solid days, and I’m just really looking forward to the weekend.”

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Brooke Henderson in full flight today – photo Stuart Franklin LPGA / Getty Images

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Bosio and Xu bow out but not without a fight


Justice Bosio – photo USGA

Australian Justice Bosio and New Zealand’s Fiona Xu have bowed out of the US Girls Junior Championship in Kentucky but not before both had given good accounts of themselves in their respective quarter final matches today.

Queenslander, Bosio, went down to American Gianna Clemente 2&1, although, despite never being ahead in the match, Bosio kept the contest alive until the 17th with the margin never more then one hole until the 15th which Clemente won to go 2 up. Bosio then won the 16th to be just 1 down before losing the match with a bogey at the 17th.

Xu, the current Australian Amateur Champion, was also involved in a tightly fought encounter against American Sara Im. After Xu had down the first hole with a birdie, the match was all square through nine before Im edged two holes ahead by the 12th.

Xu would win the 13th and 17th but Im’s birdie at the 16th had given her the cushion she needed to close out the match when both players parred the last.

The day ended a fine week for the Australasian pair, having tied for 6th in the strokeplay and then progressing through to the quarter finals of such a significant event for junior girls.

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Fiona Xu – photo USGA

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Lydia Ko best of Australasians at Evian Championship


Lydia Ko during today’s first round – photo Stuart Franklin LPGA Getty

The opening round of the Amundi Evian Championship was played in near perfect conditions in Evian Les Bains in France and at the end of day one of the 4th major of the year in women’s golf, former champion, Lydia Ko, leads the Australasians after her round of 66 has her in a share of 5th place and three shots from the lead of Ayaka Furue.

Ko’s first major title came in this championship in 2015 and with six top tens in eight starts in the event overall, it is a layout that she likes and she has made the sort of start to allow that trend to continue.

“Yeah, our whole group played really well,” said Ko. “I think 5-under, 5-under, 4-under. So it’s nice when everybody is playing well and you’re able to feed off each other.

“I gave myself quite a few looks and I wasn’t able to take like advantage of some, but I think to be able to finish with a birdie on the last, it’s a solid way to start this week for sure.

“I think I had a couple like tap-ins where I just literally just walked up and hit it without having to read the lie. I think when I was out of position I was able to hit like good approach shots to recover from there.

“So I think I stayed pretty patient and very even keel, and that’s important at any event, but especially at majors.”

Sarah Kemp is the leading Australian after day one, her round of 2 under 69 leaving her in a share of 27th, the New South Wales golfer playing in her 7th Evian Championship but with little success to date, 19th last year being her best finish to date.

Defending champion Minjee Lee has made a slow start with her opening round of 70 to be tied for 39th with amongst others, NSW’s golfer Stephanie Kyriacou.

Lee, who is having such a great season in 2022, birdied her opening hole but struggled from there.

Hannah Green and Su Oh are further back.

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