First held in 1955, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is one of five majors held annually on the LPGA Tour. This year the 72-hole event took place at 6,381 yard, par 70 Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. The ladies played for a purse of $4.3 million and 625 points for the Race to the CME Globe.
Last year, Hannah Green defeated defending champion Sung Hyun Park by one stroke. Her clutch up-and-down par from the bunker on the 72nd hole completed a nine-under par 279. This year, however, Green would struggle mightily in the opening round in this year’s event, posting a nine-over par 79.
Round one
The early leaders were Kelly Tan and Brittany Lincicome, who each fired a three-under par 67. Danielle Kang, entering in top spot for CME Race to the Globe, was part of a group of six including Lydia Ko, who were one shot back. Anna Nordqvist and Amy Yang lingered at two shots back, as only 12 of 132 players shot under par. Notables include Lexi Thomspon and Inbee Park at even, Brooke Henderson, Nelly Korda and Cristie Kerr at +1, Hasa Nataoka at +2, and Minjee Lee, and Ariya Jutanugarn at +3.
Round two
During Friday’s second round, Sei Young Kim dominated play early, going six-under par over the front nine. She finished with a 65 for the day to lead by a shot over Jennifer Kupcho, who also shot a 65. Also at three-under were Carlota Ciganda, Danielle Kang and Anna Nordqvist. Lydia Ko was one of five that were just two off the pace at the halfway point. Moriya Jutanugarn and Inbee Park remained within striking distance at even par.
A large group of 12 were at +2 including Lexi Thompson and Bianca Pagdanganan, whose 65 was 12 shots better than her opening round play. Hannah Green survived the cut after a four-under par 66. Mirim Lee and Nelly Korda withdrew, while notables Azahara Munoz, Cristina Kim, Yu Liu, Caroline Masson, and Megan Khang all missed the cut.
Sei Young Kim remained in the lead heading into the final round after a 67 which included six birdies and three bogeys. Anna Nordqvist also reached seven-under but had two bogeys on the back nine including one on the last hole, putting her at two back from Kim. Also at five-under was Brooke Henderson who got into position after a 65. Inbee Park pulled to within three after a 67 and Bianca Pagdanaganan recorded back-to-back 65’s and was also at three-under. Only ten players remained under par heading into Sunday. Danielle Kang fell further back after a round of 73. Lydia Ko finished at +2, Lexi Thompson and Ariya Jutanugarn were at +5, and defending champion Hannah Green was well back at +7.
The final round
Hasa Nataoka posted an impressive final round of 64 and was tied at minus-seven with Carlota Ciganda, who went five under par for the day. Also at five under par for the day was Inbee Park, but she still finished five shots short of Sei Young Kim. Sei Young Kim's final round of seven-under par which included four birdies on the back nine gave her a 14-under par total and an easy five shot victory. Anna Nordqvist, Brooke Henderson, Charley Hull, and Jennifer Kupcho were the only other players to finish under par. Notables Lydia Ko finished at +3, Hannah Green was +4, Lexi Thompson was +5, Danielle Kang was +6, and Ariya Jutanugarn was at +7.
The LPGA Tour is off next week, then heads to Greensboro, Georgia for the LPGA Drive On Championship. This inaugural event has a purse of $1.3 million up for grabs along with 500 points toward the Race to the Globe.
