Hannah Green – file photo image Getty / LPGA
West Australian Hannah Green produced the round of her career on day two of the Ford Championship in Gilbert, Arizona.
A stunning closing nine of 29, which included birdies on her closing six holes, over the Seville Golf and Country Club has completed a round of 61 and provided the 27-year-old with the lead in the US$2.25 million event as she chases a second win in four starts on the LPGA Tour this season.
A few players still on the course could potentially catch her but Green appears likely to head into the weekend with the lead.
Green won in Singapore earlier this month, her fourth win on the LPGA Tour and she is now nicely placed to add another.
“I don’t know, I’ve Just been really motivated this off-season,” said Green when referring to her strong start to the season. “I played the Australian Open in December last year and took six weeks off.
“It was more the mental recharge that I needed. Also didn’t help that I had a wedding to also get ready for. I had about four weeks to get ready for Thailand and Singapore, but I really worked hard in those four weeks.”
Green married her long-time partner and fellow golf professional, Jarrod Felton, recently.
“It’s nice to see that that’s working out so early in the season. I just want to make sure I’m consistent throughout the year. Last week I didn’t play my best golf, so I just want to make sure I’m putting myself in these positions and dealing with these experiences.”
Green’s round was recorded despite not feeling in good health overnight.
“I wasn’t really feeling that great overnight. Kind of have a bit of a runny nose and sore throat, so wasn’t expecting that much which is maybe a good thing.
“I missed short putt on the first and I was like, oh, okay, that’s fine. I really took advantage of the shorter holes we had. I also holed a couple really long putts. Maybe even moved the hole. It was that firm.
“But just felt really good out there. Yeah, just had a really nice morning.”
New Zealander Lydia Ko. Chasing one further win to gain admission to the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, also had a day out with a round of 64 to move within three of Green.
“Yesterday was a little frustrating,” said Ko. “I didn’t have my A-game but I thought was playing better than I scored. Obviously to finish off with a birdie on the last yesterday I think made dinner taste a little better.
“You know, normally any other golf course you shoot 69 and you’re like oh, that was a good round. Hopefully can keep building on that. When you’re seeing 8- and 9-under and you’re 3-under and you’re on the cut line, it’s I think a very unique mindset that you have to come in.”
Ko was asked about the upcoming Olympics and her thoughts on her chances.
“It’s pretty important for me. I think every Olympic year has been the one where I’m hoping to be peaking in August. I played Rio as the No. 1 ranked player and I played Tokyo where I hadn’t won for a couple years, so I wasn’t going in there with a lot of expectations and I was able to medal in both games.
“I’m hoping I’ll be able to give myself a good chance and be one of those standing on the podium at the end of the week. But it’s just a treat to be able to even compete in the Olympics. I think in the last two we’ve had COVID and Zika, so I think it’s been a little bit unique and not the most ideal situation.
“So hopefully — knock on wood — that there is going to be nothing. And I think Paris is going to be great. We play in Europe between July to August anyway, so I think it’s just going to be a great stretch for us. I’m not really sure if I’m going to be playing in like another five plus years, so this could potentially be my last Olympics. I’m just — I want to enjoy this last one potentially.”
SCORES
Mariajo Uribe survives final round duel to win NSW Open
Mariajo Uribe – image Ladies European Tour Tristan Jones
34-year-old Colombian, Mariajo Uribe, has survived a last-round battle with England’s Bronte Law and emerged the Women’s New South Wales Open winner at the Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club on the Central Coast of NSW.
Beginning the final round with a three-shot lead over Taiwan’s Peiying Tsai and by four over Law, Uribe extended her lead when she birdied the first, but consecutive bogeys in the middle of her opening nine and an outward nine of 32 by Law had the pair tied at 12 under as they headed to the back nine.
The lead would then switch on several occasions before a birdie from six feet at the 54th and final hole by Uribe saw her secure her first title in 13 years and her first on the Ladies European Tour.
Uribe, who won the US Women’s Amateur Championship in 2007 at the age of 17, has not achieved the heights her amateur career suggested it might and, with retirement pending following this year’s Olympics in Paris, the victory comes as an important late milestone in a lengthy career on the LPGA Tour and in more recent times elsewhere.
“I’m happy, really happy,” Uribe beamed after the win. “I said in my head that 15 under was the number this week, so that’s what I went out to do,”
“I thought it was going to be a shootout of birdies. I struggled today with my putting but I knew the birdies were out there.
“I know Bronte (Law) well; she’s a close friend, and I said to myself, I’m going to play good, and if I lose, then I’m OK with that.”
Law will extend her lead on the 2024 Ladies European Tour Order of Merit as a result of her runner-up finish just one behind the winner, having won an event in Morocco in February.
Both players led at various stages over the closing nine and it came down to a final hole duel which Uribe won via a superb approach to 6 feet to which Law was unable to respond.
Spain’s Marta Martin finished alone in 3rd place although four shots from the winner.
20-year-old Queensland amateur Justice Bosio did best of the Australians when she finished in an impressive share of 6th despite three late bogeys.
SCORES
Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe Duran leads NSW Women’s Open
Mariajo Uribe – image LET Tristan Jones
34-year-old Colombian Mariajo Uribe Duran has taken a three-shot lead at the NSW Open at Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club on the Central Coast of NSW, the former US Amateur Champion reeling off a round of 65 in today’s second round to lead the event into tomorrow’s final round.
Uribe Duran played the LPGA Tour for several seasons but in recent times she has played the secondary tour in the US. Making a decision to retire after the Olympics in Paris, Uribe has dedicated herself to playing wherever she can ahead of the Olympics and her class has shone through over the opening 36 holes of this Ladies European Tour event.
Uribe’s seven birdie round was the best of the day and equaled the round of 65 established by the opening round leader, Justice Bosio of Queensland.
Uribe Duran leads by three over Taiwanese golfer, Pei Ying Tsai with Bosio and LET Order of Merit leader, Bronte Law, tied in third place one further back.
Leaderboard
Adam Scott reportedly withdraws from Olympic consideration
Adam Scott – file photo image Australian Golf Media
Australian Adam Scott has reportedly withdrawn from consideration for the Australian Olympic Team.
According to a report in Golf Digest, Scott is amongst six golfers to notify the International Golf Federation of their decision to withdraw from consideration including Brooks Koepka and Tyrell Hatton.
As it stands at this stage, Scott would not make the team as the leading two players in the world ranking from each country earn the right to play in Paris and Jason Day and Min Woo Lee ( provided they are available) are the two eligible at present.
Final selections for both the men and women fields will be made from the Official World Golf Rankings in mid June
Scott also made himself unavailable for the 2016 and 2021 Olympics, expressing disinterest in the idea of professional golf being part of the Olympic program.
Minjee Lee and Hannah Green are the two Australians currently in line for selection in the women’s Olympic team.
Hannah Green’s brilliant 61 in Arizona
Hannah Green – file photo image Getty / LPGA
West Australian Hannah Green produced the round of her career on day two of the Ford Championship in Gilbert, Arizona.
A stunning closing nine of 29, which included birdies on her closing six holes, over the Seville Golf and Country Club has completed a round of 61 and provided the 27-year-old with the lead in the US$2.25 million event as she chases a second win in four starts on the LPGA Tour this season.
A few players still on the course could potentially catch her but Green appears likely to head into the weekend with the lead.
Green won in Singapore earlier this month, her fourth win on the LPGA Tour and she is now nicely placed to add another.
“I don’t know, I’ve Just been really motivated this off-season,” said Green when referring to her strong start to the season. “I played the Australian Open in December last year and took six weeks off.
“It was more the mental recharge that I needed. Also didn’t help that I had a wedding to also get ready for. I had about four weeks to get ready for Thailand and Singapore, but I really worked hard in those four weeks.”
Green married her long-time partner and fellow golf professional, Jarrod Felton, recently.
“It’s nice to see that that’s working out so early in the season. I just want to make sure I’m consistent throughout the year. Last week I didn’t play my best golf, so I just want to make sure I’m putting myself in these positions and dealing with these experiences.”
Green’s round was recorded despite not feeling in good health overnight.
“I wasn’t really feeling that great overnight. Kind of have a bit of a runny nose and sore throat, so wasn’t expecting that much which is maybe a good thing.
“I missed short putt on the first and I was like, oh, okay, that’s fine. I really took advantage of the shorter holes we had. I also holed a couple really long putts. Maybe even moved the hole. It was that firm.
“But just felt really good out there. Yeah, just had a really nice morning.”
New Zealander Lydia Ko. Chasing one further win to gain admission to the LPGA Tour Hall of Fame, also had a day out with a round of 64 to move within three of Green.
“Yesterday was a little frustrating,” said Ko. “I didn’t have my A-game but I thought was playing better than I scored. Obviously to finish off with a birdie on the last yesterday I think made dinner taste a little better.
“You know, normally any other golf course you shoot 69 and you’re like oh, that was a good round. Hopefully can keep building on that. When you’re seeing 8- and 9-under and you’re 3-under and you’re on the cut line, it’s I think a very unique mindset that you have to come in.”
Ko was asked about the upcoming Olympics and her thoughts on her chances.
“It’s pretty important for me. I think every Olympic year has been the one where I’m hoping to be peaking in August. I played Rio as the No. 1 ranked player and I played Tokyo where I hadn’t won for a couple years, so I wasn’t going in there with a lot of expectations and I was able to medal in both games.
“I’m hoping I’ll be able to give myself a good chance and be one of those standing on the podium at the end of the week. But it’s just a treat to be able to even compete in the Olympics. I think in the last two we’ve had COVID and Zika, so I think it’s been a little bit unique and not the most ideal situation.
“So hopefully — knock on wood — that there is going to be nothing. And I think Paris is going to be great. We play in Europe between July to August anyway, so I think it’s just going to be a great stretch for us. I’m not really sure if I’m going to be playing in like another five plus years, so this could potentially be my last Olympics. I’m just — I want to enjoy this last one potentially.”
SCORES
Consecutive NSW women’s events get underway on Central Coast
Women’s professional golf returns to Australian shores this week for the first of two events jointly sanctioned between the WAPGA and Ladies European Tours.
The Women’s NSWOpen and the Australian Women’s Classic will be played at the Magenta Shores Golf and Country Club on the Central Coast of NSW and at the Bonville Golf Resort in Coffs Harbour, both events offering prizemoney of €300,000 and for those not otherwise qualified the chance to leapfrog their way onto the Ladies European Tour.
Australian Kirsten Rudgeley heads the Australian challenge in terms of world ranking while New Zealander Momoka Kobori whose brother, Kazuma, took the PGA Tour of Australasia by storm this year by winning three events and leading the Order of Merit, appears likely to feature in the finish.
Kobori is the defending champion of the NSW Open.
West Australian, Rudgeley, produced several impressive performances on the Ladies European Tour last year during her rookie season there and is expected to do well amongst the Australians in the field.
Kobori has already won two events on the Ladies European Tour’s secondary tour and earlier this year finished runner-up in a Webex TPS Series in Australia.
Amongst those from the LET in the field are last year’s Order of Merit winner, Trichat Gleenglab, and the current leader this season Bronte Law.
Also a consideration will be Singaporean Shannon Tan who has already won in Kenya and in Australia in 2024 and is currently just behind Law on the LET Order of Merit.
Anne Van Dam from the Netherlands is a former LPGA Tour player with four LET wins to her name and as one of the longer hitters in the female game and as the leading world-ranked player in the field, her performance will be watched with interest.
The event is using Magenta Shores for the first occasion, and the links layout will provide a strong test of the event which gets underway on Friday.
Entries
Gabi Ruffels records best LPGA Tour finish
Gabi Ruffels – file photo
23-year-old Victorian Gabriella Ruffels has produced her best LPGA Tour finish with a share of 3rd place at the Fir Hills Se Ri Pak Championship in California.
Ruffles bounced back from a double bogey during the middle of her final round with two late birdies in the blustery conditions to finish just one behind the playoff between Nelly Korda and Ryan O’Toole won by Korda.
Ruffels moved into contention with a third round of 65 on Saturday and through eight holes today she had a share of the lead but then came the double bogey at the 9th before the two late birdies led to a final round of 70 and a share of third with Alison Lee.
Ruffels will earn a cheque for US$120,000, a significant jump on her previous best of US$86,000 earned when finishing 24th at last year’s lucrative KPMG Women’s PGA Championship but it is her best finish in an LPGA Tour event after gaining her full playing rights after leading the Epson Tour last season.
Ruffels, who has family connections in the area, has enjoyed staying with her Aunty this week.
“My mom grew up here. This is her hometown, and I’m staying with my aunt this week and my whole extended family lives in this area and I also went to USC. I have a lot of ties to this area and this place. It’s really cool to just be around family this week. I feel very relaxed and at home. It’s been fun.”
Ruffels was a winner and runner-up at the US Women’s Amateur Championship during her amateur days while attending the University of Southern California.
Leaderboard
Aaron Baddeley contends in Florida
Aaron Baddeley – file photo Australian Golf Media
It has been quite some time since Aaron Baddeley contended in a PGA Tour event, with only one top ten in his last fourteen months, but at the halfway stage of the Valspar Championship at the Innisbrook Resort on the west coast of Florida, the now 43-year-old former Victorian finds himself just one off the lead.
Baddeley, who last victory of four on the PGA Tour came back in 2016, retained his status last year by finishing inside the top 125 in the FedEx Cup standings, added a second round of 70 in inclement conditions to be behind a group of five who lead.
Baddeley had the lead in the event until a messy double bogey at his 12th hole but did well to hold on with a run of six pars to finish off the day in conditions that became increasingly demanding.
“It feels like the game’s sort of right about there,” said Baddeley referring to his recent form.” Just need a little something just to kick it over the edge. Hopefully, today’s round sort of will be a nice little start for that.
“I feel a bit frustrated or disappointed when you don’t get in the mix, especially when you feel like the game’s sort of in a good spot, you’re like, come on, I want to get right in there. I think that’s what, that’s why I’m out here. I want to have a chance to win.”
One or two players were unable to finish their round but their efforts will not impact the leading standings when they finish their rounds early on Saturday morning US time.
Other Australasians in the field, Ryan Fox, Harrison Endycott and Min Woo Lee, will miss the cut.
Leaderboard
David Micheluzzi finding his feet on DP World Tour
David Micheluzzi – file photo Australian Golf Media
Victorian David Micheluzzi, playing in just his 6th event as a DP World Tour cardholder, has made a good start to the Porsche Singapore Classic at the Laguna National Golf Resort, the 27-year-old just two shots off the lead at the halfway stage of the US$2.5 million event.
Micheluzzi earned his DP World Tour playing rights after leading the Australasian Tour Order of Merit in the 2022/2023 season and to date has made two of five cuts and recorded a best of 16th.
Germany’s Freddy Schott, along with England’s Andy Sullivan and Richard Mansell lead the event at 9 under and while in a share of 9th place Micheluzzi is very much in contention heading into the weekend.
Jason Scrivener was the only other Australian to make the cut, the Perth golfer at 2 under and in 48th place.
Leaderboard
Herbert third in dramatic International Series Macau event
Lucas Herbert – adds another lucrative finish
In what was a dramatic finish to the International Series Macau event, American John Catlin has won his fourth Asian Tour title but his first since rejoining the Asian Tour in January of this year.
Catlin who spent several years on the DP World Tour after earlier success on the Asian Tour, defeated Spaniard David Puig at the second hole of a playoff after Puig had produced a final round of 60 to catch Catlin who began the final day five off the pace.
Catlin was required to attend the Asian Tour School earlier this year, making his success even more meritorious.
Earlier in the week Catlin had become the first player to ever break 60 in an Asian Tour event when he recorded a round of 59 on Saturday.
Catlin appeared to have lost the event when his second to the par 5 18th in the first hole of the playoff veered right and seemingly out of bounds before being found inside the boundary following which he made birdie to force the playoff to the 18th tee once again.
This time Catlin again missed the green right but only narrowly and when Puig three-putted from long range, Catlin’s up-and-down birdie sealed the deal.
Australian Lucas Herbert birdied four of his last seven holes for a round of 64 and outright 3rd place and US$126,000 while New Zealander Ben Campbell shared 5th place for which he earned US$68,000.
LEADERBOARD
Cameron John’s first win brings season to an end
Cameron John earns first Australasian Tour victory – image Australian Golf Media
The final event of the 2023 / 2024 PGA Tour of Australasia season has been completed with the National Tournament at the National Golf Club’s Moonah course bringing to an end a season that began at the PNG Open in May of last year.
This week’s event finalises a lot of various Order of Merit positions which, in turn, play a role in determining the immediate playing future of a number of the leading players in the standings.
This week’s event was won by first-time winner 22-year-old Cameron John of Victoria who finished three shots ahead of NSW golfer Daniel Gale with Josh Younger and Aaron Townsend sharing 3rd place, albeit four shots from the runner-up.
While the $36,000 will be a boost for John as he looks to build on his professional career in which his previous best finish was when runner-up at the 2018 NSW Open, his jump to 7th on the finalised order of Merit opens up other possibilities for him including access to events like the Alfred Dunhill Links at St Andrews later this year.
John and Gale were locked in battle for much of the final round after Gale had begun round four five shots off John’s lead.
By the turn Gale had drawn within one but John birdied his opening three holes of his closing nine to put the result all but beyond doubt. John would hold on over the closing stages for what was a comfortable win although at various stages throughout the final round things could have gone either way.
Gale might perhaps be disappointed in not winning what would have been his 4th PGA Tour of Australasia title but a great consolation is that by finishing runner-up in the current season Order of Merit he earns one of the three DP World Tour cards for the 2025 season.
The other two cards go to the Order of Merit winner, Kazuma Kobori, and third-placed Brett Coletta (pictured below) who are taking advantage of the relatively new pathway formed in an alliance with the DP World to advance their cause.
As the leaders battled it out in the final group, players throughout the field were playing for their immediate futures on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia.
Over the course of a windy but pleasant afternoon on the Mornington Peninsula Nathan Barbieri (70), Jack Munro (71), Kit Bittle (68), Townsend and Younger moved in and out of the top-50 cut-off who keep their category for next season.
Ultimately it would be only Younger who finished the season inside the top 50, Munro (51), Bittle (52), Townsend (53) and Barbieri (54) now facing the prospect of a return to Qualifying School next month to improve their category.
Results
Final Order of Merit
Daniel Gale – Kazuma Kobori and Brett Coletta – imzge Australian Golf Media