The LPGA Tour remained in Australia for the second consecutive week for the ISPN Handa Women’s Australian Open. Nelly Korda entered as the defending champion of this event, played at a par 73, 6689 yard course with a purse of $1.3 million.
In Thursday’s first round, Korda got off to a solid start in her title defense, posting a four-under par round. She was in a 12-player group the included Madelene Sagstrom. They were three shots behind Jodi Ewart Shadoff, whose 66 included birdies on the last two holes. Jeongeun Lee6 recorded eight birdies and was two shots back, along with Inbee Park, who eagled the par 4 first. All told, 69 players broke par on day one.
Park made a move Friday after a four-under par 69 put her tied for the lead with Jodi Ewart Shadoff, who got off to a slow start with bogeys on two and three but went five-under the rest of the way. Jillian Hollis was just a shot behind after a 69, while Ayean Cho and Marina Alex lurked just two shots off the pace. Three shots back included Sagstrom and Celine Boutier. Yu Liu and Maria Fassi each recorded the best rounds of the day at 67 and were at minus-6. Notables to miss the cut included Lydia Ko, Caroline Masson, Karrie Webb, Morgan Pressel and Bronte Law.
Perrine Delacour made a move on Saturday, going six-under through the first ten and finished with the round of the day, at 67. She was tied for fourth with Boutier, five shots behind Park, who had seven birdies in route to a 68. Ayean Cho was three shots behind after a 69 and Marina Alex remained in striking distance at minus-eleven. While scoring was generally good, the course was a struggle for some, particularly Tonje Daffinrud, whose 81 included seven bogeys a double bogey and a triple bogey.
Cristie Kerr made it to Sunday's final round. She recorded three birdies on the last four holes to rise 25 spots to finish tied for sixth at eight under par. Her 69 was the only round on Sunday under 70 as scoring conditions were increasingly more difficult. Kerr was tied with Celine Boutier who shot as 75, Ayean Cho who shot a 77, and Mi-Hyang Lee.
The course on Sunday was particularly difficult for Pornanong Phatlum and Giulia Molinaro. Both coming off third rounds of 69, Phatlum registered an 80 and Molinaro shot an 81. Defending champ Korda was quiet after a strong first round and finished well back, tied for 41st.
The day belonged to Inbee Park, ending a nearly two-year drought in the winner’s circle. A one-over par 74 was good enough for a 14-under part total and three shot win over Amy Olson. Perinne Delacour finished at ten-under, and Marina Alex and Yu Liu were another shot back at minus-nine.
The LPGA has a month break in the schedule before returning to the United States for the Founders Cup March 19-22 in Phoenix Arizona. Jin Young Ko is the defending champion of the event with a purse of $1.5 million.
