The LPGA teed it up this week at the Seaview Bay Golf Course in Galloway, New Jersey for the LPGA ShopRite Classic. This event was held from 1986 through 2006 and returned to the schedule in 2010. The 56-hole event takes place on a par 71 layout of 6190 yards. The purse was $1,750,000 with 500 points towards the CME Race to the Globe for the winner. Mel Reid entered as the defending champion after posting a four-under par in the final round to win by two shots.
First Round
Scoring was excellent during the opening round with 89 players shooting par or better. Jodi Ewart Shadoff shot a 65 that included four birdies and an eagle. She was tied at the top with So Yeon Ryu, who had five consecutive birdies from holes 7 through 11. Jin Young Ko led a group of eight at five-under par that included Inbee Park, Celine Boutier, Brooke Henderson, and Nanna Koerstz Madsen. Among those at four under and just two shots back included Yuka Saso, Leona Maguire, and Perrine Delacour. Notable players are four-under par included Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit and Moriya Jutanugarn, along with Lexi Thompson. A large group of 22 at two-under par included notables Ariya Jutanugarn, Anna Nordqvist and Nasa Hataoka. Those who struggled and were in jeopardy of missing the cut included Sei Young Kim (one-over), and Laura Davies (three-over).
Second Round
Jin Young Ko recorded five birdies on the front nine and posted a round of 65. She was tied at the top with Inbee Park, who matched Ko’s 65. Getting into contention for the final round was Patty Tavatanakit after a round of 65 that including six birdies and no bogeys. A shot further off the pace were Brittany Lincicome and Anna Koerstz Madsen. Su Oh also posted a six-under par round and was in a group of four at seven-under par. Looking for her third win in this event, Stacy Lewis was at six-under par after a round of 66. Also at six-under was Brooke Henderson, who rebounded after a start of three bogeys over the first four holes. Rounds of 65 were commonplace, as Sei Young Kim reached that mark after an eight-birdie round. She was tied at five-under with Yuka Saso and Maria Fassi. Yet another 65 was shot, this time by Sarah Burnham, who was seven-under over her last night holes.
Other notables that made the cut but were out of contention were Lexi Thompson and Matilda Castren (two-under), and Charley Hull and Ariya Jutanugarn (one-under). Those that failed to make the final round included Amy Yang, In Gee Chun, and Sophia Piller (Even), Jennifer Kupcho, Nasa Hataoka (one-over), Mel Reid (eight-over) Laura Davis (10-over), and Angel Yin (16-over).
Final Round
Brooke Henderson recorded six birdies over her first ten holes and finished with a 64, good for a 13-under par finish and tie for 2nd with Inbee Park and Jin Young Ko. Maria Fassi impressed in the final round with an eagle and six birdies to finish at 12-under. Patty Tavatanakit’s stellar rookie season continued with an 11-under total and sole possession of 6th. Paula Reto’s 65 led a group of five players at 10-under par. Xiyu Lin and Anna Nordqvist finished at nine-under. Sei Young Kim finished another shot back at eight-under. Among those at seven-under were Ariya Jutanugarn, who bounced back after a lackluster second round to post a 65.
All the great play up and down the leaderboard wasn’t enough to overtake Celine Boutier. She shot the round of the day that included six-under on the front nine. Boutier finished at 14-under par and earned her 10th professional win and second on the LPGA Tour.
Coming up
The LPGA Tour heads to the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey for the Cognizant Founders Cup. In 2019, Jin Young Ko earned a one-shot win over Jessica Korda, Nelly Korda, Carlota Ciganda, and Yu Liu after going without a bogey over the final two rounds.
The event, in its 10th year, is a 72-hole format played on a par 72 layout of 6656 yards. The purse is $3 million with 500 points towards the Race to the CME Globe awarded to the winner.
