The LPGA Tour headed to the Blythefield Country Club in Grand Rapids, Michigan for the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give. The 72-hole event takes place on a par 72 course of 6638 yards. The event was last held in 2019 and won by Canada’s Brooke Henderson, by a single shot. In doing so she became the winningest Canadian golfer in history. The ladies were playing for a purse of $2.3 million and 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe.
First Round
Scoring was generally excellent during the first round. Charley Hull posted two eagles and Lauren Stephenson shot a 30 on the back nine, both posting rounds of 65. They were tied with Nasa Hataoka and Leona Maguire. Just a shot off the pace was Ariya Jutanugarn and Min Lee. Amy Olson, Sophia Popov, and Anna Nordqvist were among 11 at five-under par. Several big names including Jessica Korda, Megan Khang, Inbee Park, Nelly Korda, and Lexi Thompson were in a pack of 22 at four-under. Jin Young Ko was the most prominent name at three-under, while 57-year-old Laura Davies was in a group at two-under par. Lydia Ko shot a relatively pedestrian one-under par on a day when 75 players broke par. Jeongeun Lee6 struggled to a one-over par round of 73 and defending champion Brooke Henderson had five bogeys and a round of 75.
Second Round
Leona Maguire recorded eight birdies and an eagle in her round of 64 to vault to the top of the leaderboard at 15-under par. She held a three-shot lead over Su Oh, who posted a round of 65. The great scoring continued with Lindy Duncan’s 65 to put her in sole possession of third at 11-under. Lizette Salas, Nelly Korda, and Anna Nordqvist were lurking at five shots back. Among a group of seven at nine-under par were Moriya Jutanugarn, In Gee Chun, and Charley Hull. Lexi Thompson, Elizabeth Sokol, Jennifer Kupcho, and Inbee Park were at eight-under. First round co-leader Nasa Hataoka fell way off the pace after a round of 72. Other notables included Jin Young Ko at six-under, Jeongeun Lee6, Ariya Jutanugarn and Cristie Kerr at five-under and Brooke Henderson, who missed that cut by a shot after a round of 67.
Third Round
After a round of 62 that included 11 birdies, Nelly Korda climbed to the top of the leaderboard at 20-under par. Leona Maguire’s two-under par round of 70 put her three-shots back, while Madelene Sagstrom’s 65 put her in solid position heading into the final round at 16-under par. Another round of 65, this time by Georgia Hall, put her in a group of four at 14-under par. Jennifer Kupcho was among three at 13-under, while Jessica Korda, Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda, and Inbee Park were the big names at 12-under. Other great rounds of 65 came from Gerina Piller, Muni He, and Allison Lee, who all entered the final round at 10-under. Soon to be 61-year-old Juli Inkster finished with a 70 and was at seven-under. While most players took advantage of the scoring conditions, Jeongeun Lee6 had five bogeys and a double bogey for a round of 77 and was last at even par.
Final Round
Scoring continued to be superb during the final round. In Gee Chun moved from 12th to tie for third after a round of day of 63. Brittany Altomare also tied for third after a round of 64 and Ariya Jutanugarn placed in the top ten after posting a round of 64. Nelly Korda was the lady to beat and she did enough with a round of 67 for a two-shot win over Leona Maguire, who posted a round of 66. Anna Nordqvist finished in sole possession of fifth after a five-under par round. Ally Ewing was among four at 18-under par and tied for sixth. Inbee Park recorded another top 10 finish. First-round co-leader Charley Hull fell from 5th to 15th after a round of 70. Lexi Thompson was among a group of four tied for 20th at 15-under. CME point leader Lydia Ko likely dropped to second after finishing tied for 61st.
Coming Up
The ladies head to the Atlanta Golf Club in Johns Creek, Georgia for the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. The event began in 1955 and is one of the major championships on the LPGA Tour. The 72-hole tournament takes place on a par 72 course of 6831 yards. The purse is a huge $4.5 million with 624 points up for grabs towards the Race to the CME Globe. Sei Young Kim shot a final round of 63 last year to defeat Inbee Park by five shots.
