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LPGA Tour News

The LPGA Tour headed to Indiana for the Indy Women in Tech Championship as the Race to the CME Globe continued. In the third year of the event, the 2017 winner Lexi Thompson and last year’s winner Sung Hyun Park struggled, while number one player in the world Jin Young Ko, was not in the field.

In the first round, South Korea’s M.J. Hur got off to a great start, finishing with nine birdies and no bogeys for a round of 63. She finished at nine under par ad two shots ahead of the trio Sakura Yokomine, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and Bronte Law. Just three shots back were Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum, and Amy Olson and Marina Alex of the United States. Defending champion and number two player in the world, Sung Hyun Park, recorded five birdies, an eagle, two double bogeys and a bogey for a two-under part round. Number three player in the world, Lexi Thompson, failed to record a birdie and finished tied for 120th at four-over par.

The round of the day on Friday was a 65 by Tiffany Chan to put her in contention at -6 halfway through the event. Hur maintained her lead, firing at 70 to finish at -9. Alex and Maria Torres lingered at -7, just four shots off the pace. The surprise at the midway point was the fact that both Sung Hyun Park and Lexi Thompson missed the cut. Park shot a 77 and both finished 36 holes at +3. Another notable that failed to make the cut is number eight player in the world, Ariya Jutanugarn.

Koerstz Madsen shot the round of the day on Saturday after a 64 that included nine birdies an a single bogey. Marina Alex recorded eight birdies but was still two behind Hur, who shot a 66. Hur started slowly with a bogey on the opening hole, but had a strong five-under back nine to finish at -17. Sakura Yokomine, who was two back after 36 holes, shot a 72 and fell eight off the pace at -9.

Marina Alex had the best shot at catching Hur on Sunday, but failed to get anything going, registering two bogeys and no birdies on the front nine. She finished with a 72 and finished at -15. Koertz Madsen was solid all day and finished with a 67 and -17 for the tournament. Bronte Law, Sakura Yokomine, Maria Torres and Megan Khang all finished -13, tied for fourth. It must be noted that the round of the day was a 66 shot by Sarah Burnham, who finished tied for 39th. M.J. Hur stole the show, however, leading after every round and took the title with a final round 68 to finish at 21-under par. It was the fourth career LPGA victory for Hur.

The LPGA tour heads to Texas for the Volunteers of America Classic and a $1.3 million purse. Sung Hyun Park looks to rebound from the missed cut and defend her title.

Symetra Tour News

The Symetra Tour was in Longwood, Florida this weekend as the Volvik Race for the Card is nearing it’s conclusion for 2019. The top four money leaders on tour this season, Perrine Delacour, Patty Tavatanakit, Jillian Hollis and Ssu Chia Cheng were all in the field, but failed to make a serious push for the title.

In Friday’s first round, Sophia Popov had nine birdies on the day, but also a double bogey on the fifth. Still, she finished at -7. Joining her at the top as Holly Clyburn, who recorded four birdies on the last six holes and Marta Sanz Barrios, who had a fast five-under start for the front nine. Perrine Delacour lurked at just two shots back and Patty Tavatanakit was in reach at two-under. Ssu Chia Cheng (+2) and Jillian Hollis (+4) shot themselves out of the event in round one.

The trio at the top in round one didn’t all remain there after Saturday’s second round. Maria Sanz Barrio shot another solid round of minus-four to finish -11 and a shot ahead of Sophia Popov. Lisa Pettersson made her way up the leaderboard and was third at -9. Karen Chung and Mind Muangkhumsakul were in the mix at minus-eight. Linnea Johannsson was the hottest player on the course the second day, shooting a seven-under par 64. Perrine Delacour was sticking around at -6, tied with Patty Tavatanakit. The most disappointing round had to be the 78 shot by Jillian Hollis, which include four double bogeys. Her tournament event with a +11 score and a missed cut.

On Sunday, the top two players on the money list, Delacour and Tavatanakit both shot 71 and finished -6, tied for fifth but never seriously challenged for the title. Scoring was excellent in general with three players shooting 67, including Mind Muangkhumsakul, who finished second at -12. Others who recorded a 67 were Hexi Yuan, who tied for 5th and Celine Borge, tied for 24th. But it was Maria Sanz Barrio who took home the title with a final round of 69, good enough for a score of -13 and a one shot victory. For Barrio, it was her first win of the season and her second Symetra Tour victory since she joined the tour in 2015.

The ladies of the Symetra Tour head to Daytona Beach, Florida next week for the Symetra Tour Championship. Ruixin Liu, who is an LPGA Tour rookie this season, is the defending champion in this final event of the 2019 season.

M.J. Hur: Fore Ladies Golf Featured Player of the Week

M.J. Hur was a successful amateur in South Korea and at the age of 16 in 2006, received a sponsor’s exemption to play at the Hana Bank-KOLON Championship. More than a respectable showing, Hur made the top ten, earning a tie for sixth.

Toward the end of 2007, Hur turned professional playing in the then Futures Tour, now the Symetra Tour. Making an immediate impact and showing she had the talent to do big things, Hur earned a win at the Louisiana Pelican Classic. After a full season on the Futures Tour in 2008, Hur played well enough to earn his LPGA Tour card after finishing in the top five on the money list.

Toward the end of her first season on the LPGA Tour, Hur earned her first victory at the Safeway Classic. After rounds of 69-69-65, she entered a three-way playoff with Suzann Pettersen and Michele Redman. Maintaining great poise, Hur birdied the second playoff hole to claim victory.

After such a strong start to her LPGA career, Hur went quiet, failing to win again until September 21, 2014 at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, defeating Stacy Lewis by four shots. Another dry spell ensued until Hur claimed two titles this season, her first on August 11 at the Ladies Scottish Open by four shots over Moriya Jutanugarn and Lee Jeongeun. She was a wire-to wire winner at the Indy Women in Tech Championship this past weekend, finishing at -21.

Hur has had some success in major tournaments, missing 18 cuts in 47 appearances. Her top finishes were tied for third at the 2017 Women’s Open and 2014 Evian Championship.

She was 40th in the Rolex World Rankings prior to this week’s victory. With five top ten’s as well in 18 events, Hur is in good position heading down the stretch towards the CME Tour Championship in Naples, FL November 21-24.