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The LPGA Tour headed to the Wilshire Country Club in Los Angeles, California for the DIO Implant LA Open. The 72-hole event was in its fourth year and played on a par 71 layout of 6450 yards. Last season, Brooke Henderson came from behind to post a final round of 67. Her 16-under par total of 268 was good enough for a one-shot win over Jessica Korda and Jin Young Ko. The purse for the tournament was $1.5 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe to the winner.

First Round

Alison Lee bolted to the lead after a round of 66 that included five birdies and no bogeys. She was one shot ahead of Nasa Hataoka, Emily Pedersen, and Emma Talley. Jennifer Song was in the lead through her first 11 holes, but made three bogeys over the next four holes. She was two shots back, along with five others, including Sei Young Kim and So Yeon Ryu. Among those are two-under were Peiyun Chien, Madelene Sagstrom, Celine Boutier, and Lizette Salas, who was five-under through 16 after a double bogey on the 17th. Notables still in the mix at five shots back were AtthayaThitikul, PajareeAnannarukarn, Hannah Green, Ayaka Furue, and Minjee Lee. A logjam of 18 players at even included Sophia Popov, Jin Young Ko and Stacy Lewis. Notbales over par included Inbee Park and Danielle Madsen at one-over, Patty Tavatanakit at two-over, Ariya Jutanugarn at three-over, Jennifer Kupcho and Yuka Saso at four-over, and Brooke Henderson at five-over.

Second Round

The round of the day was from Jin Young Ko, who shot a 31 on the back nine and 64 for the day. At seven-under par, she was tied at the top with Nasa Hataoka. Hannah Green was two shots back after a round of 67. Minjee Lee and Haeji Kang lurked at four-under par. Inbee Park and Yu Liu were among four players only four shots behind. First round co-leader Alsion Lee struggled for a 75 and was in at two-under along with the likes of Jenny Coleman, Sei Young Kim, and Celine Boutier. Yuka Saso got back into the mix with 36 holes to play after a 66 put her at one-under par. Among those at even were Angel Yin and Patty Tavatanakit, who both posted rounds under 70. Other scores under 70 included Isi Gabsa with a 68 and Lilia Vu with a 69. Jennifer Kupcho and AtthayaThitikul made the weekend by a single shot, while Ariya Jutanugarn birdied 18 to stick around for the weekend right on the cut line. Notables that missed the cut were Leona Maguire and Amy Yang at four-over, Megan Khang at five-over, Brooke Henderson at six-over, and Sophia Popov at eight-over.

Third Round

Nasa Hataoka took control of the tournament after a round of 67 put her at 11-under par. She was four shots clearly of Hannah Green, five ahead of Inbee Park, Haeji Kang, and Jin Young Ko. Lilia Vu posted an excellent round of 66 and was at four-under par along with Chella Choi, who posted a round of 67 and Minjee Lee. Yealimi Noh matched Vu’s round while recording seven birdies and two bogeys. She led a group of five at three-under par. Madelene Sagstrom and Lizette Salas were among nine players at two-under par and Stacy Lewis was in a logjam at one-under par. Alison Lee dropped to 11 off the pace and she was at even along with Matilda Castren and Nanna Koerstz Madsen. At one-over par were AtthayaThitikul, Danielle Kang, and Gaby Lopez. Notables who struggled were Patty Tavatanakit (73 and two-over), Ariya Jutanugarn (three-over), and Jennifer Kupcho (73 and four-over).

Final Round

There was plenty of good scoring in the final round. Madelene Sagstrom tied for the lowest round of the day with a 66, finishing in third at seven-under par. Hye-Jin Choi, Brittany Altomare, Yuka Saso, Xiyu Lin matched Sagstrom. The day belonged to Nasa Hataoka, who cruised to a five-shot win after a round of 67. The win was her sixth on the LPGA Tour and 11th professional win. Hannah Green finished in sole possession of second at eight-under par. Minjee Lee and Inbee Park joined Sagstrom in a tie for third, while Hye-Jin Choi, Sei Young Kim, Chella Choi, and Haeji Kang rounded out the top ten. Yealimi Noh finished a five-under, Celine Boutier was a shot further back at four-under, while number one player in the world Jin Young Ko posted a 75 and was at two-under. Notables include Patty Tavatanakit and Danielle Kang (one-over), Ariya Jutanugarn (two-over), AtthayaThitikul (three-over), Jennifer Kupcho (six-over), and Brooke Henderson (eight-over).

Coming Up

The LPGA Tour heads to Palos Verdes Golf Club in Palos Verdes Estates, California for the Palos Verdes Championship Presented by Bank of America. This inaugural year for the event is 72 holes on a par 71 layout of 6450 yards. The purse is $1.5 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe for the winner.