The ladies of the LPGA Tour headed to Barwon Heads, Australia for the ISPS Handa Vic Open, a jointly sanctioned event with the European Tour. This unique event had both men and women competing on the Beach and Creek Courses for the first two rounds, with the Beach Course for the last two. Celine Boutier was the defending champion at this event which features 2 par 73 courses.
During Thursday’s first round, Haeji Kang got off to a quick start, recording eight birdies including four straight on the back nine. Her eight-under par score tied her with last week’s winner, Madelen Sagstrom, who went eight-under over a ten-hole stretch.
A shot back were the trio of Haley Moore, Linnea Strom, and Peiyun Chien. The scoring was excellent during this first round, as nine more were at six-under, including Laura Davies and Christina Kim. Seven more players were bunched just three shots back, and 80 players posted rounds under par.
Sagstrom took the lead on Friday with a round of 67 that included six birdies and an eagle. At -13, she held a one-shot lead over Ally McDonald, who bolted up the leaderboard with six birdies on the front nine and a minus-eight 65 total. Robyn Choi, Linnea Strom, and Ayean Cho all played well and were just three shots off the pace. Fourteen more were in striking distance at minus-nine and minus-eight. Defending champion Celine Boutier missed the cut with consecutive rounds of 72, and Laura Davies struggled to a 77 and also missed the cut.
The combination of firm greens, long fairways, and strong winds resulted in elevated scores for the weekend. In fact, only So-Yeon Ryu, who shot a 68 and was at minus-eight, shot under 70. Cho took the lead with a round of 70 and was at 12-under. Sagstrom struggled to a 74 and was a shot back. Also in the mix was Hee Young Park, whose even par round put her at nine-under. Linnea Strom and Robyn Choi shot rounds of 76 and 77 respectively, hindering their hopes for the title.
Scores continued to climb during Sunday’s final round. Three players finished with rounds north of 80, including Sagstrom, whose 81 placed her tied for 20th at minus-two. The round of the day was shot by Su-Hyun Oh, who posted a 68 and finished in a three-way tie for sixth with Robyn Choi and Minjee Lee. Strom and Leone Maguire were in the mix, but came up a short short of the playoff at seven-under.
Hye-Jin Choi had the second best round of the day with a minus-four 69 to get into a three-way playoff with Hee Young Park and So-Yeon Ryu. Playing the par five 18th during the playoff, Ryu was eliminated in the second hole after posting a par, while both Park and Choi birdied. Park and Choi both birdied the third playoff hole, but on the fourth playoff hole Choi got into trouble off the tee, failed to get out of trouble with the second, and hit the third out of bounds. After a good tee shot and approach just off the green in two, Park easily converted a par to claim victory.
The LPGA Tour stays in Australia next week for the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, February 13–16. Nelly Korda is the defending champion of the event with a purse of $1.3 million at stake.
Fore Ladies Golf Featured Player: Hee Young Park
Hee Young Park won her third career event this week at the ISPS Handa Vic Open. The 32-year old from South Korea began playing golf at age 11 and was a member of the South Korean National Team from 2002 through 2004. She finished runner-up at the South Korea Amateur Open.
In November of 2004, Park earned victory at the Hite Cup on the KLPGA Tour, prompting her to turn professional. She didn’t disappoint in her first year, winning three times, good enough to earn her 2005 KLPGA Rookie of the Year.
After winning two more times on the KLPGA Tour in 2006, Park earned her tour card for 2007 at the LPGA qualifying school. She played well enough in 2008 to earn four top-ten finishes and nearly a half million dollars, good enough for 35th on the LPGA Tour money list.
Although without a victory in 2009, Park shot a course record 64 at the Honda LPGA Thailand. She also tied for second at the Mizuno Classic, fifth at the LPGA Tour Championship, and three other top-tens, including tied for ninth at the US Women’s Open.
Park finally broke through with her first LPGA Tour win at the CME Group Titleholders in November of 2011. She won by two shots over Sandra Gal and Paula Creamer. A year and a half later, Park earned her second title at the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic in a playoff over Angela Stanford.
Last season, Park made 12 cuts in 16 events on the LPGA Tour, with her best a tied for 12th. In 51 career majors, she has four top-tens, with her best a tied for second at the 2013 Women’s British Open.
With 40 career top ten finishes and three victories, Park is currently 191st in the Rolex World Rankings. Her victory this week vaulted her to third for the CME Race to the Globe.
