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Following the Olympics, the ladies on the both the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour teed off in the Ladies Scottish Open in Fife, Scotland. The 72-hole event took place at the Dumbarnie Links, a par 72 layout of 6584 yards. Stacy Lewis entered as defending champion after draining a 23-foot birdie on the first playoff hole, earning her first title in almost three years. The purse for the event was $1.5 million with 500 points toward the Race to the CME Globe.

First Round

Michele Thomson of Scotland took the early lead, recording an eagle on the second and recorded seven birdies over the last ten holes. Her round of 65 gave her a two-shot lead over Anne Van Dam, Yuka Saso, and Jasmine Suwannapura. Van Dam posted an eagle on the seventh, Sas went five-under on the back nine, and Suwannapura was four under after four. A large group of nine were at four-under including Yealimi Noh, Lauren Stephenson, and Nanna Koertz Madsen. Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Patty Tavatankit were in a logjam of nine at three-under. Among those at two-under were Lydia Ko and 57-year-old Laura Davies. Scoring conditions were excellent with 20 more players at one-under, including notables such as Stacy Lewis, Jeongeun Lee6, and Amy Yang.

The projected cutline was even and among those right on the line were Madelene Sagstrom, Amy Olson, Emma Talley, In Gee Chun, Carlota Ciganda, and Perinne Delacour. Others who struggled and shot over par include Gaby Lopez, Mel Reid, and Ally Ewing (one-over), Moriya Jutanugarn and Minjee Lee (two-over), Jenny Coleman at three-over, and Sarah Kemp at six-over.

Second Round

After struggles in the Olympic Games in Japan, Ariya Jutanugarn took a three-shot after a round of 66, which included five-under par on the last seven holes. AtthayaThitikul started the day with three bogeys over the first five, but rebounded six under over the next ten holes. She was in a tie for second along with Charley Hull and Emily Pedersen. Just four off the pace was a group of six led by Jeongeun Lee6 and Yuka Saso. Still in the mix and just five shots back were Yealimi Noh and Marina Alex. Whitney Hillier and Ssu-Chia Cheng posted rounds of 69 and paced a group of seven at three-under par. Lydia Ko was among eight players still lurking at two under par. With a round of 68, Germany’s Esther Henseleit got to one-under along with Jenny Shin, Carlota Ciganda, and Leona Maguire.

All told, 44 players shot even par or better. Among those are even included Patty Tavatanakit, who struggle to a 75, PajareeAnannarukarn, Georgia Hall, and Laura Davies. With a day of great scores, some players had a difficult time getting their rounds on track. Among those were Gaby, Lopez, Mel Reid, Madelene Sagstrom and Stacy Lewis, who each shot 74. Lauren Stephenson had six bogeys and a double bogey in her round of 79. Michele Thomson ballooned to an 80, while Jenny Coleman had two double bogeys and a round of 83.

Third Round

Ariya Jutanugarn had an up and down round, which was similar to her play in Japan. After birdies on eight and nine to get to 11-under, she had a double bogey on the 10th and bogeys on the last two. She was tied with Ryan O’Toole, who shot a 68, and Charley Hull at nine-under par. One shot back was the duo of Ashleigh Buhai, who had six birdies over the last 11 holes, and AtthayaThitikul, who could have been in the lead but bogeyed the last two. Big names were lurking such as Anna Nordqvist at six-under, and Lydia Ko at five-under. Still within striking distance for the last round were Perinne Delacour, Jasmine Suwannapura, and Sarah Schmelzel, all at four-under.

Further back in a group of nine at three-under were the likes of Su Oh, PajareeAnannarukarn, Leona Maguie, Jeongeun Lee6, and Yuka Saso. Among those at one-under were Gaby Lopez, Mel Reid, MadeleSagstrom, and Emily Pedersen, who struggled all day to a round of 77. Others who couldn’t find their way successfully around the course were Lydia Hall, who was five over after six and shot a round of 78, Michele Thomson, and Stacy Lewis, whose 79 put her 69th out of the 71 players who made the cut.

Final Round

Players took advantage of the best scoring conditions of the week. Of those who teed off early, Mannon De Roey, starting the day in 45th place, posted a round of 64 which included five birdies over the last six holes. Whitney Hillier recorded a 65 to jump from 37th to a tie for 15th. The rounds of the day went to Lydia Ko and Ally Ewing, both with a 63. Ko’s effort was good for a 14-under par finish.

Tied for the lead entering the round was Ariya Jutanugarn, Ryann O’Toole, and Charley Hull at nine-under. Although the favorite, Jutanugarn couldn’t sustain any momentum. Her up and down round culminated with three-under on last five holes to finish with a 68 and fourth place finish at 13-under par. Charley Hull eagled the 2nd and posted three birdies on final five, but a bogey on 18 put her at 12-under par, alone in fifth place. Ryann O’Toole, who had never won an LPGA event, played nearly flawless golf, finished with a round of 64 to finish at 17-under par for a three-shot win.

AtthayaThitikul, -5 on first 7, got into position to make a run, 2 bogeys on back and pars on last 3 and finished at –14, tied with Ko for 2nd. Esther Henseleit and Jeongeun Lee6 both posted rounds of 66 and led a group of five at nine-under. Tied for 12th at eight-under par were the trio of Sarah Schmelzel, Ashleigh Buhai, and Anna Nordqvist. Yuka Saso finished at seven-under, while Amy Yang, PajareeAnannarukarn and three others were at six-under. Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit rebounded for a very solid final round of 67 and was at five-under. Notables include In Gee Chun (even), Austin Ernst (one-over), Laura Davies (eight-over), and Stacy Lewis (nine-over).

Coming Up

The AIG Women’s Open, final major of the LPGA season, takes place August 19-22 in Carnoustie, Scotland. The 72-hole event will be played at Carnoustie Golf Links, which is a par 71 layout of 6649 yards. Last year, Sophia Popov came out of nowhere to post four great rounds at Royal Troon to win the event by two shots of Jasmine Suwannapura. The purse is a eye-popping $4.5 million with 625 points toward the CME Race to the Globe for the winner.