The LPGA Tour headed to Lake Merced Golf Club in Daly City, California June 10-13 for the LPGA Mediheal Championship. The third year of the event is 72 holes played over four days on a par 72 layout of 6551 yards. Sei Young Kim won the event when it was last played in 2019 with a birdie on the first playoff hole, defeating Jeongeun Lee6 and Bronte Law. The ladies played this year for a purse of $1.5 million and 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe.
First Round
Leona Maguire jumped out to the lead after a round of 65 that included nine birdies and two bogeys. She held a one-shot lead over Jasmine Suwannapura who had eight birdies and two bogeys. Albane Valenzuela and Allison Lee were three shots back, while Inbee Park and Jennifer Kupcho were among six just four shots off the pace. Patty Tavatanakit, rebounded from a double bogey on the first hole, recording an eagle on the 18th and was among three at two-under par. Lexi Thompson, Danielle Kang, and 18-year-old Lucy Li were among a contingency of 16 at one-under. Other notables included Lydia Ko (Even), Sei Young Kim and Shanshan Feng (one-over), Paula Creamer (three-over), Gerina Piller (four-over), Juli Inkster and Brooke Henderson (five-over), and Cristie Kerr (six-over).
Second Round
Danielle Kang rebounded with a 66 which included seven birdies to vault to the lead at the midway point. She held a one-shot lead over Lauren Kim and Leona Maguire who had a rough start with three consecutive bogeys. Min Lee moved to within two of the lead after a round of 69. Allison Lee and Jenny Coleman remained in the mix at four-under par. Scoring was excellent overall with 21 more players either at three-under or two-under par, including Patty Tavatanakit, Jennifer Kupcho, Angel Yin, Lucy Li, Lydia Ko, and Jasmine Suwannapura. Inbee Park struggled to a 75 and dropped to a tie for 38th. Brooke Henderson and Cristie Kerr withdrew from the event before the second round. Gerina Piller, Paula Creamer, Bronte Law, and Juli Inkster all missed the cut.
Third Round
A surprise leader emerged on Saturday. Min Lee, ranked 129th in the Race to the CME Globe, birdied three of the last four holes to finish nine-under par. Matilda Castrin and Lauren Kim were two shots off the pace. Albane Valenzuela move back into the mix after a round of 68 left her two back. Danielle Kang was near the top but suffered and uncharacteristic double bogey on the 18th and left her at five-under, along with four others. First-round leader Leona Maguire fell to five shots back along with Lydia Ko and Lucy Li, around a round of 74. Notables include Lexi Thompson and Angel Yin at three-under, Inbee Park at two-under, and Michele Wie West at one-over par.
Final Round
Despite the typical difficult pin placements for the final round, numerous players shot low. The round of the day went to Celine Boutier, who posted an eagle and six birdies. She finished at tied for fifth at eight-under par. Jodi Ewart Shadoff posted a 65 and finished tied for ninth at six-under par. Also shooting a 65 was Matilda Castrin, who was five-under for the day after the first five holes. She won by two over Min Lee, and four over So Yeon Ryu and Hannah Green. Danielle Kang was among a group of four at seven-under. Lydia Ko was in a group of four at six-under par. Shanshan Feng and Inbee Park finished at two under, and Lexi Thompson struggled to a two-over par in the final round and tie for 34th.
Coming Up
The LPGA Tour heads to the Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan from June 17-20 for the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. In the seventh year of the event, this 72-hole format takes place on a par 72 layout of 6638 yards. Brooke Henderson is the defending champion, winning in 2019 by a single shot. This year the ladies play for a large purse of $2.3 million and 500 points up for grabs towards the Race to the CME Globe.
