Hyo Joo Kim – Getty Images
West Australian Hannah Green continued her good recent form with a runner-up place finish at the HSBC Women’s World Championship event in Singapore but bogeys at her final two holes would prove costly for the 24-year-old.
Green had a one-shot lead with two holes to play but three putted the 17th then missed the green at the last and was unable to hole a 15 foot par saving putt to force a playoff.
Green had appeared to be treading water in her final round as powerful finishes were coming from the eventual winner, Hyo Joo Kim and recent major champion, Patty Tavatanakit, while Inbee Park was consolidating her position near the top of the leaderboard.
At the short par 4 14th however Green holed a pitch from 65 metres or so for eagle to re-join the lead and when she holed a 15 foot birdie putt at the 16th she had the lead outright ahead of Kim who had finished some 30 minutes earlier after a stunning round of 64.
Then came the dropped shots at 17 and 18, the 17th after leaving a lengthy first putt well short and the 18th after missing the green from a good drive. Her 3rd shot (a putt) from just off the green at the 18th raced past and she was unable to make the return.
For Green, however, the finish follows a 3rd place finish in Los Angeles last week and confirms the progress her game has made since working on adding distance.
Green has improved from 54th in 2020 to 9th this season in the distance stats category on the LPGA Tour.
“I felt like I wasn’t really playing that great even though the score was all right,” said Green. “So yeah, a bit bummed to finish that way. But you know, I guess I put myself in that position but hopefully it’s not the last time. Hopefully I can learn from it and do the opposite and maybe make two birdies coming in.
“I don’t want to sound obnoxious, but it is nice I’m not playing my best and getting these results. I’ve heard it’s a bit warmer in Thailand (next week’s venue) and a hillier course, so my No. 1 goal is to make sure that I make every round and make sure that I’m keeping hydrated. I feel like my driver was a little bit off this week, so if I can get that into gear, I feel like I can be up on top again.”
Referring to her hole out at the 14th Green said; “It’s funny, I was saying to my caddie, I finally hit a good drive on that hole and got it down to where I should be. And I had about 64 meters to the pin and all week I had not had a yardage from that distance and I was like, “Oh, I’d better take a five more practice swings. I haven’t had this yardage for a long time.
“And sure enough. I hole out and we just started giggling and laughing at each other. So I said, “Oh, maybe I should lay into that more often,” blah, blah, blah. So that was definitely a big momentum switch. I know that when I don’t play well, I kind of get in my own shell and stay away from everyone.
“So Nate (caddie) did a good job of trying to pick me back up and just start conversation. So I’m really happy with doing things on the golf course, so not long, not far away.”
It was Green’s 5th eagle of the season to be tied at the top with Nelly Korda in that category on the LPGA, reflecting the work she has been doing in adding distance to her game.
Hannah Green file photo – Bruce Young
For winner, Kim, this was her 4th LPGA Tour title, one of which was a win at the 20914 Evian Championship, one of the majors on the LPGA Tour.
After playing much of 2020 on the Korean LPGA Tour, where she won twice, Kim is pleased to be back on the LPGA Tour
“My goal this year was to get a win, and I’m glad I already achieved that. While I was playing on the KLPGA Tour last year, I honed my skills and wanted to adapt them to this year on the LPGA, and I’m very happy that these results came out.
“It’s not today’s round that I feel confident. I’ve been playing really well for the past couple days and months. I’m just trying to keep it as it is, and I’m feeling good.”
Inbee Park, Patty Tavanakit and China’s Xiyu Lin tied for third at 15 under par and three from the winner.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko was unable to build any momentum on the final day and finished tied for 7th, Australians Minjee Lee and Su Oh tied for 24th and Katherine Kirk was 28th.
The LPGA Tour now moves to Thailand for the Honda LPGA Thailand event.
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Maverick Antcliff finishes runner-up in Tenerife
Maverick Antcliff – file photo
Queenslander Maverick Antcliff has finished runner-up at the European Tour’s Canary Island Championship in Tenerife in Spain, providing the 28-year-old his best finish on the European Tour and easily his biggest cheque (€152,000) in professional golf.
Antcliff, who hails from just south of Brisbane and attended the Hills International College in Jimboomba before a collegiate career in the US, recorded a final round of 65 to finish in outright second place and six shots behind South African Garrick Higgo who won his second title in his last three European Tour starts.
Antcliff is playing in Europe courtesy of an outstanding year on the China Golf Tour in 2019 when he won three events and easily headed the China Tour Order of Merit that season, earning the right to play in Europe because of that tour’s association with the European Tour.
In his rookie European Tour season in 2020, Antcliff managed a 3rd place finish at the Irish Open but this week’s performance further consolidates his standing in Europe and improves his world ranking to just outside the top 200.
Antcliff played for Augusta State in the US and as a result escaped the attention of Australian golf during his amateur days but his performances in China and those in his early European Tour career suggest a bright future.
Amongst his wins in amateur golf in the US was the prestigious Rice Planters event.
For 21-year-old South African Higgo, his victory continues his rapid rise in the game. This was his third European Tour title and he now sits close to the top 50 in the world golf rankings and will play next week’s USPGA Championship at Kiawah Island.
Ariya Jutanugarn’s home win first in three years
Ariya Jutanugarn- file photo LET
Eight years after a gut-wrenching loss in the event, when not at that stage an LPGA Tour player, 25 year old Ariya Jutanugarn has become the first Thai golfer to win the Honda LPGA Thailand in Chonburi, Thailand, a final round of 63 allowing her to climb from 9th place overnight to a one shot victory.
Jutanugarn had teed off some 24 minutes ahead of the final group but after a final hole birdie had completed her 9 under par round, she was forced to wait a further one hour due to a weather delay as the final two groups were playing the last.
Only 18-year-old, Atthaya Thitikul, who was playing in the final group of the day could alter the outcome by producing a birdie at the last but despite a stunning drive and a second which flew over the top of the flag she was unable to get up and down for birdie at the par 5 and Jutanugarn had won her 11th LPGA Tour title.
In 2013 Jutanugarn, as a 17-year-old, had tripled bogeyed the 18th hole on this same course to cost her a first LPGA Tour title and a card to play the LPGA Tour.
She would go on however to become the world number one, win two majors and in a three-year space between 2016 and 2018 she would dominate women’s golf with a power game that left so many others in her wake.
It was an emotional Jutanugarn who faced the media after her win.
“It just feels so good, not only for Thai player to win, but I would say I have really tough time last two years,” said Jutanugarn. “I’m thinking about like, you know, I don’t know how many time I told my psychology, like, you know, what I want to rest, no more. I want to stop for a while.
“I would say this (win) mean the world to me, because after 2013, one of my biggest dream is to be able to win in Thailand, and I did.
“So thank you for all the fans who really give me like full support. It’s mean so much to me. I will say this win is for you guys. Thank you.
“Every time when I look at all the kids and I want them to — give them inspiration. So I feel like you know what, don’t give up. Do your best. Try harder. Keep trying. One day you will get it.”
Thitikul, added further to Thailand’s historic week when she fell one short and alone in 2nd place. She will rue a three-putt bogey at the 71st hole but she is clearly a soon to be star. She was one of three Thais to finish in the top three, the other being last weeks’ winner in Singapore, Patty Tatavanakit.
Amy Yang produced another of the week’s great performances when she finished in a share 3rd place when trying to win the title for the 4th time. Yang began the week with a horror opening nine of 39 but played her next 63 holes in 23 under par to go close to adding yet another Thailand title to her name.
Hannah Green eventually finished 7th after a final round of 68 although a bogey at her 17th hole and a failure to get up and down from just off the back of the 18th would prove costly in the final outcome.
“Yeah, no, I’m super happy to see how things are coming along,” said Green referring to her runner-up finish last week and now this further top ten. “Nate and I feel like we’re not far off, so pretty exciting. Hopefully I can keep peaking at the right events and hopefully have a trophy one day.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko tied for 11th after she failed to build any momentum on the final day.
The LPGA Tour will now have a one week break before the Pure Silk Championship in Virginia.
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Hannah Green’s chance to atone in Thailand
Hannah Green – file photo
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko and West Australian, Hannah Green, are once again poised to challenge for an LPGA Tour title, the pair two and three shots respectively off the 54 hole pace at the Honda LPGA Thailand event in Chonburi in Thailand.
Ko’s 5 under par round of 67 and Green’s 8 under 64 continues some excellent form from the pair, Green having finished runner-up in Singapore last week after bogeys at her final two holes and Ko finishing inside the top ten in three of her last four starts including a win in Hawaii three weeks ago.
Green was at one stage tied for the lead during round three but strong finishes from those behind her on the golf course saw her now tied for 6th.
The lead is held by Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit who recovered from a mid-round struggle to birdie three of her last five holes to lead by one over Germany’s Caroline Masson and yet another Thai the 18-year-old Atthaya Thitikul.
Katherine Kirk is the next best Australians at 11 under par and seven shots from the lead.
Following her near miss last week Green suggested she needs to focus on her own game tomorrow rather than perhaps watching what is going on a around her.
“I think I’ve always been one to look at leaderboards, so I got to make sure I’m focusing on my own game and not getting too caught up,” said Green.
“It’s a birdie-fest again this week, so making sure I’m giving myself the best opportunities to make birdies and pars, that’s probably what I learned from last week and hopefully, yeah, capitalize on all the opportunities I give myself.”
It is Green’s first appearance in the event and once again she has opened up a chance two win a third LPGA Tour title.
Following her runner-up finish last year Green has moved to 13th in the Rolex World Ranking – her highest standing in the game.
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Near miss for Hannah Green in Singapore
Hyo Joo Kim – Getty Images
West Australian Hannah Green continued her good recent form with a runner-up place finish at the HSBC Women’s World Championship event in Singapore but bogeys at her final two holes would prove costly for the 24-year-old.
Green had a one-shot lead with two holes to play but three putted the 17th then missed the green at the last and was unable to hole a 15 foot par saving putt to force a playoff.
Green had appeared to be treading water in her final round as powerful finishes were coming from the eventual winner, Hyo Joo Kim and recent major champion, Patty Tavatanakit, while Inbee Park was consolidating her position near the top of the leaderboard.
At the short par 4 14th however Green holed a pitch from 65 metres or so for eagle to re-join the lead and when she holed a 15 foot birdie putt at the 16th she had the lead outright ahead of Kim who had finished some 30 minutes earlier after a stunning round of 64.
Then came the dropped shots at 17 and 18, the 17th after leaving a lengthy first putt well short and the 18th after missing the green from a good drive. Her 3rd shot (a putt) from just off the green at the 18th raced past and she was unable to make the return.
For Green, however, the finish follows a 3rd place finish in Los Angeles last week and confirms the progress her game has made since working on adding distance.
Green has improved from 54th in 2020 to 9th this season in the distance stats category on the LPGA Tour.
“I felt like I wasn’t really playing that great even though the score was all right,” said Green. “So yeah, a bit bummed to finish that way. But you know, I guess I put myself in that position but hopefully it’s not the last time. Hopefully I can learn from it and do the opposite and maybe make two birdies coming in.
“I don’t want to sound obnoxious, but it is nice I’m not playing my best and getting these results. I’ve heard it’s a bit warmer in Thailand (next week’s venue) and a hillier course, so my No. 1 goal is to make sure that I make every round and make sure that I’m keeping hydrated. I feel like my driver was a little bit off this week, so if I can get that into gear, I feel like I can be up on top again.”
Referring to her hole out at the 14th Green said; “It’s funny, I was saying to my caddie, I finally hit a good drive on that hole and got it down to where I should be. And I had about 64 meters to the pin and all week I had not had a yardage from that distance and I was like, “Oh, I’d better take a five more practice swings. I haven’t had this yardage for a long time.
“And sure enough. I hole out and we just started giggling and laughing at each other. So I said, “Oh, maybe I should lay into that more often,” blah, blah, blah. So that was definitely a big momentum switch. I know that when I don’t play well, I kind of get in my own shell and stay away from everyone.
“So Nate (caddie) did a good job of trying to pick me back up and just start conversation. So I’m really happy with doing things on the golf course, so not long, not far away.”
It was Green’s 5th eagle of the season to be tied at the top with Nelly Korda in that category on the LPGA, reflecting the work she has been doing in adding distance to her game.
Hannah Green file photo – Bruce Young
For winner, Kim, this was her 4th LPGA Tour title, one of which was a win at the 20914 Evian Championship, one of the majors on the LPGA Tour.
After playing much of 2020 on the Korean LPGA Tour, where she won twice, Kim is pleased to be back on the LPGA Tour
“My goal this year was to get a win, and I’m glad I already achieved that. While I was playing on the KLPGA Tour last year, I honed my skills and wanted to adapt them to this year on the LPGA, and I’m very happy that these results came out.
“It’s not today’s round that I feel confident. I’ve been playing really well for the past couple days and months. I’m just trying to keep it as it is, and I’m feeling good.”
Inbee Park, Patty Tavanakit and China’s Xiyu Lin tied for third at 15 under par and three from the winner.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko was unable to build any momentum on the final day and finished tied for 7th, Australians Minjee Lee and Su Oh tied for 24th and Katherine Kirk was 28th.
The LPGA Tour now moves to Thailand for the Honda LPGA Thailand event.
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Former Australian Amateur Champ, Koh, wins NZPGA title
Tae Koh – an important professional breakthrough for the former Australian Amateur champion
In 2013 New Zealand’s Tae Koh became just the third New Zealander to win the Australian Amateur Championship when defeating Australian Curtis Luck in the final.
Normally, such a victory would be the likely catalyst for a successful professional career but for Koh that milestone victory at The Grange in Adelaide has not resulted in any real success in the professional ranks, until now that is.
Other than two top tens in PGA Tour of Korea events and an 8th place finish at the NSW Open there has not been a lot to get excited about but today he achieved a likely turning point in his career when he stormed home over the final round of the $100,000 New Zealand PGA Championship at the Te Puke Golf Club in the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand’s North Island.
Koh has played well in recent domestic events in New Zealand and today he put it all together to secure his most important win in the paid ranks.
The 26 year old’s final round of 61 saw him catch and pass his significantly more credentialed rivals, Ryan Fox and Josh Geary, in a tight battle and emerge as the winner of one of New Zealand’s historic and iconic events.
“It’s a bit of a blur to be honest,” said Koh, “I hit it awesome and probably the best round of my career and in such a prestigious event I am super stoked.”
Koh won by one over Geary and by two over Fox, an eagle at his final hole allowing him the buffer to hold off strong finishes by Geary who birdied four of his last five holes for a round of 65 and Fox who would also eagle the last although for New Zealand’s leading ranked male player it was a case of too little too late.
Koh began the day three behind the lead of Fox and Geary but by the turn had taken the lead. With such credentialed players chasing him the likely scenario might have been for Koh to fall victim to the situation but instead he raced home in 30 to lead in the clubhouse.
Geary, who is from the Bay of Plenty area and who has been working at the Te Puke Golf Club while traveling restrictions have prevented him playing in Europe, stormed home to all but catch his younger rival. It was Geary’s third runner-up finish in the NZPGA Championship.
Geary led after round one, Fox after round two and Geary and Fox had shared the lead through 54 holes.
The 2021 New Zealand PGA Championship was severely impacted by Covid issues essentially restricting the field to domestic players although several Australians took advantage of the New Zealand / Australia bubble to play the event.
The best of the Australians was promising South Australian rookie, Jack Thompson who tied for 7th although 11 shots from the winner.
The event proved a success on what is a regional golf course in New Zealand and allowed such an important title in New Zealand golf to return to the golfing calendar after being cancelled last year due to Covid issues.
Some of New Zealand and the world’s finest players have won the event including Sir Bob Charles, Kel Nagle, Peter Thomson, Jumbo Ozaki, John Lister, Graham Marsh, Frank Nobilo and Greg Turner and to have joined such an elite list might well be the boost the career of Tae Koh needs.
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Hannah Green and Lydia Ko contend in Singapore
Two time Singapore winner Inbee Park perhaps the one to beat – photo Getty Images
West Australian Hannah Green and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko have continued their recent good form to be tied for 7th and four shots from the lead at the halfway mark of the HSBC Women’s World Championship at the Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong Course in Singapore.
The pair trail the leaders Inbee Park and her fellow countrywoman Hee Young Park, who lead by two.
Ko won two weeks ago in Hawaii while Green finished third at last week’s event in Hawaii so they have created an opportunity to build on that impressive from over the weekend.
Green’s round was the equal best of the day in round two her outward nine of 31 setting her up for a six under par 66.
After her round Green admitted that she was getting better in each start this season.
“I feel like ANA and Kia was just a bit rusty, you know, first tournament back after a few months,” said Green. “But yeah, this is my first time in Thailand and Singapore, so I’m super excited to be here. I think that’s really helping me try to beat this heat which I’m not very good with.”
Ko also played well over her opening nine although a late bogey saw her lose a little contact with the pace but given she has never finished outside the top twenty in six starts in the event and he been runner-up once she is poised to continue that run of results at the Sentosa Golf Club.
One of the two leaders, Inbee Park, has been a two-time winner of this event and she too is in good form of late having won her first start of 2021 in California and finished runner-up to Ko in Hawaii.
She will be a tough nut to crack over the weekend while her co leader has struggled in recent weeks, missing three of her five cuts this season.
Other Australians in the field are Katherine Kirk and Su Oh tied for 21st and Minjee Lee 37th who dropped four shots in six holes in the middle of her round after a fast start to round two.
Scores
Co-leader – Hee Young Park – Getty Images
Ryan Fox takes halfway lead at NZPGA Championship
Ryan Fox file photo – Bruce Young
As perhaps expected, New Zealand’s leading world ranked male golfer, Ryan Fox, has the halfway lead at that country’s PGA Championship at the Te Puke Golf Club near Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty.
The historic and iconic event in New Zealand golf has been resurrected as a non-PGA Tour of Australasia event after being played in recent years as part of that tour’s schedule but Covid issues would mean the event took on a new look in 2021.
Essentially, this year’s field is made up of New Zealand’s domestic golfers although several Australians did make the decision to play the NZ$100,000 event.
Fox, who has been in fine form in local events in New Zealand of late as he awaits a return to the European Tour, added a second round of 64 to be one ahead of Auckland’s Tae Koh, a former Australian Amateur Champion, and local golfer and first round leader, Josh Geary, a prolific winner of domestic events in New Zealand.
Fox has won the last three events he has played in his homeland including an emphatic win a Charles Tour event at the Muriwai Golf Club in Auckland and his current form augurs well for when he restarts his European Tour schedule whenever that might be.
In 4th place, and only two from the lead, is impressive New Zealand amateur, James Hydes.
The leading Australian in the field is Victorian, Blake Collyer, who sits in 6th place at 8 under and four from Fox’s lead.
Scores
Leishman and Smith win Zurich Classic of New Orleans
photo PGA Tour
Australians Cameron Smith and Marc Leishman have parred the first extra hole of a playoff to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after their opponents, Charl Schwartzel and Louis Oosthuizen, found the water from the tee and could do no better than double bogey.
For Smith it is his third PGA Tour title and for Leishman his 6th but for Smith it completes a unique double in this particular event having also won in 2017, albeit with another playing partner.
Smith and Leishman began the final round in the alternate shot format one shot behind Schwartzel and Oosthuizen although through nine holes they were tied at 21 under. The Australian pair birdied the 11th to move two ahead after the South Africans had bogeyed the 10th.
Bogeys at the 13th and 15th however had them trailing the South Africans but perhaps the key turning point came at the reachable par 4 16th after Smith had found the water with his tee shot.
After taking a penalty drop, Leishman hit the most delicate of pitches into the hole for an unlikely birdie and a share of the lead.
Both pairs bogeyed the par 3 17th after missing the green and then parred to last to force a playoff.
Smith’s previous win in the event was with Sweden’s Jonas Blixt and while no doubt the victory back then was special for him given it was his first PGA Tour title, to have won with his fellow countryman and close PGA Tour friend, today’s success will be equally important.
The win will take Smith’s earnings in his five-year career on the PGA Tour beyond US$15 million while for Leishman he moves past US$32 million with the US$1050,000 each of the winning team pocketed for their success.
Leishman was of course delighted with the win and heaped a lot of praise on his playing partner.
“It was an awesome week, obviously,” said Leishman. “Cam played unbelievably well. I was saying to him when we finished if that had been an individual tournament, I think he would have won by a fair few shots.
“But I managed to not hold him back too much. But, no, it was a fun week. I mean, the course was unbelievable. I haven’t been here for a few years and the greens were firm, fast, even after 11 inches of rain last week.
“But it was just all around a really good week, on and off the golf course. Obviously, New Orleans is a great city and we enjoyed our time here and looking forward to coming back next year I’m sure.”
When asked about the crucial chip in Leishman responded; “I said to the boys, I said, Why don’t we just chip this in. It wasn’t the hardest chip in the world, but under the conditions — well, I won’t say it was a must make, but it was certainly very helpful that it went in.
“I actually forgot to get my ball out of the hole I was so excited. I went over and was high-fiving Cam, and Louis had to throw the ball to me. So yeah, it’s just nice to be able to celebrate with friends.
“We’re maybe me, Matty, Pinner, our caddies, we just had a great week. I’m really excited for them also. And, yeah, that chip-in was a lot of fun. It was nice to have crowds back out there too. The atmosphere was really good.”
Smith too was pumped by the win and talked about the nice vibe all week. “I think that we obviously were playing pretty good golf coming into the week. Leish coming off a Top-5 at the Masters. I played really well last week in Hilton Head.
“I mean, the conditions definitely favored the Aussies, I think, this week. It was windy for three out of the four days. The greens were firm and fast, exactly how we like it. Reminds us so much of home.
“And just everything just kind of fell into place. Yeah, I mean, it was just, it was so cool. It was, like Leish said, the crowd felt like a home crowd. It felt like we were playing on a home course. So, yeah, it was a really cool week.”
Neither Smith nor Leishman are scheduled to play next week’s Valspar Championship in Tampa and it may be that their next event will be the Wells Fargo event in ten days’ time.
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NSW’s Brett Drewitt 3rd in Texas
Brett Drewitt – file photo
Taree born and Inverell raised, Brett Drewitt, has finished in a share of 3rd place in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Veritax Bank Championship in Arlington in Texas, recording his best finish and first top ten on that tour since his win at the Lincoln Land Championship last September.
Drewitt birdied his final hole to jump clear of what would have otherwise been a six-way tie for 4th and assisted his cause as he strives for a return to the PGA Tour in 2022.
The 30-year old is currently just inside the top 25 on the points table which determines those who will graduate to the big stage next season, his win in Illinois playing a big role in that standing. This week’s finish might improve him a place or two from his current 24th place on that list.
Drewitt finished three shots behind the winner, Tyson Alexander.
Drewitt’s fellow New South Welshman, Jamie Arnold, was the only other Australian to make the cut when he finished 20th.
Scores
Hannah Green finishes third in Los Angeles
Hannah Green – file photo
Hannah Green has finished in a share of 3rd at the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open at the Wilshire golf Club in Los Angeles and two shots behind the winner, Brooke Henderson.
Green’s final round of 66 was the equal best of the day and saw the 24 year old West Australian record her best finish of the season, although recent indications have suggested she was close to this sort of performance.
Green who is only the third Australian female to win a major title, had finished 12th and 14th in her two previous starts and she indicated earlier in the week that work with her coach on building clubhead speed is beginning to show benefits.
“I think putting has been pretty key for me, but then also hitting greens in regulation. You know, now that I have shorter shots in, I expect that my greens in regulation stats will go up a bit higher. That was probably the key to me having the good results this week was making sure that I was missing it in the right areas and hitting a lot of greens.
“I feel like I’m pretty close. Nate and I, my caddie, have been talking about it, and we feel like we’re not far off a win.
“Hopefully Thailand and Singapore, be my first time, so excited to get over there and see what can happen.”
The highlight of Green’s round was when recording an eagle at the par 4 14th which she all but drove and converted when putting from just off the green and when she birdied the 15th to follow, she was not without hope of winning the event.
Green is currently ranked 18th in the female game and might improve a place or two as a result of this week’s effort.
Gabi Ruffels continued her impressive rookie season on the LPGA Tour when she finished as the next best Australian in 17th place. For Ruffels it was a nice reversal from a missed cut in Hawaii last week.
The winner Henderson, secured her 10th LPGA Tour title. She leads by one over Jessica Korda.
The event finished a day earlier than normal in order to allow players to head to Singapore for the first of two events in Asia.
Scores