The LPGA Tour teed it up in a rare team event at the Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational at the Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan. This 72-hole event had a large purse of $2.3 million with 400 points towards the Race to the CME Globe for both members of the winning team.
Due to COVID-19, the event was not held last year. In 2019, Jasmine Suwannapura and Cydney Clanton began the final round with a five-shot lead and cruised to a six-shot victory, finishing at 27-under par.
First Round
The defending champions shot a five-under par 65 to get into a four-way tie with PajareeAnannarukarn/Aditi Ashok, Jillian Hollis/Lauren Stephenson, and Jessica Korda/Nelly Korda. Just a shot off the pace were the teams of Carlota Ciganda/Mel Reid, and Wichanee Meechai/PavarisYoktuan. One of two sister teams in the event, Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn were lurking at three-under par along with the teams of Mi Jung Hur/Jeongeun Lee6 and Inbee Park/So Yeon Ryu. The excellent scoring continued down the leaderboard with four teams at two-under, including Lydia Ko/Danielle Kang. A logjam of 15 teams were are one-under including the likes of Minjee Lee/Yuka Saso and Nasa Hataoka/Lexi Thompson. The projected cut line was at one-over with In Gee Chun/Brooke Henderson among those right on the line.
Second Round
The teams blistered Miland Country Club in the second round led by the Jutanugarn sisters. They broke 60, recording 11 birdies for 59 and total of 14-under par. They held a two-shot lead over PajareeAnannarukarn/Aditi Ashtok. They fired a 63 including an eagle on the par 4 12th. At 11-under par were the teams of Mi Jung Hur/Jeongeun Lee 6 and Wichanee Meechai/PavarisYokutan. Four shots off the pace but still in striking distance were the defending champions and Carlota Ciganda/Mel Reid. Getting back into the mix was the team of Amy Yang/Haeji Kang after following a first round of 70 with a round of 61. The team of In Gee Chun/Brooke Henderson also bounced back from a 71 to post a 62 to get to seven-under par. The Korda sisters fell well off the pace, managing only two birdies between them and were eight shots back. Notables missing the cut were the teams of Marina Alex/Jaye Marie Green, Mina Harigae/Jennifer Kupcho, and Jenny Coleman/Perinne Delacour.
Third Round
Scoring was significantly higher in the third round. The round of the day was shot by the team of Cydney Clanton/Jasmine Suwannapura. Their five-under par 65 vaulted them to a tie with PajareeAnannarurkarn/Aditi Ashtok. Only a single shot back was the team of Carlota Ciganda/Mel Reid, who posted a round of 66. The Jutanugarn sisters struggled all day, finishing 12 shots worse than round two and were two shots off the pace, along with Mi Jung Hur/Jeongeun Lee6. A large group of eight teams were at ten-under par, including Minjee Lee/Yuka Saso, the Korda sisters, and Hee Young Park/Jennifer Song. The worst round of the day was shot by the team of Lydia Ko/Danielle Kang. Failing to find their groove, they posted a 74 and were tied for 30th at five-under par.
Final Round
Scoring was outstanding in the final round, as 13 of the 41 teams posted rounds of 64 of better. The day went to the team of Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn. A five-consecutive birdie stretch was part of a round of 59, their second of the tournament. They finished with a 24-under par total and cruised to a three-shot win over the defending champions. At 19-under par were the teams of Yealimi Noh/A Lim Kim and PajareeAnannarukarn/Aditi Ashtok. An eight-under par round of 62 moved the team of Minjee Lee/Yuka Saso into fifth at 18-under par. Four teams finished a shot further back, including veteran Cristie Kerr, teamed with Stephanie Meadow. Rounding out the top ten was the team of Brittany Lang/Brittany Lincicome.
The victory was the 12th for Ariya Jutungarn in her LPGA career and second for the season. For Moriya Jutanugarn, it was her second win, the last coming on April 22, 2018.
Coming Up
The LPGA Tour heads to the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France for The Evian Championship. This major tournament became an official LPGA event in 2000. The 72-hole event takes place on a par 71 layout of 6523 yards. The purse is a lofty $4.5 million with 625 points towards the Race to the CME Globe for the winner. The championship wasn’t held last year due to COVID-19. Jin Young Ko recorded a final round of 67 in the 2019 Evian Championship to win by two shots over Shanshan Feng, Hyo Joo Kim, and Jennifer Kupcho.
