Kingsmill Championship presented by JTBC
Williamsburg, Virginia
Final Round Notes
May 18, 2015
LEE’S LEARNING
Rookie Alison Lee had a strong performance all week at the Kingsmill Championship finishing third, but it wasn’t the final round she was hoping for. Lee played consistent all weekend, but after a rain delay and then play was called for darkness, Lee came out Monday morning a little flat.
“Unfortunately on 16 and 17 I feel like I hit two good putts but they just didn’t go in,” Lee said. “Then on 18 I just kind of gave up on myself, and I shouldn’t have done that. Should’ve finished strong.”
Lee did not leave the course without plenty of experience though. This was her first time in contention on the LPGA and she was able to learn from her experience and excited to see what the remainder of her season will bring.
“Even though I didn’t come out on top this week, I really learned a lot,” Lee said. “I’ll take it to every tournament I go and remember it.”
Alison Lee was in a battle with Minjee Lee (-15) and So Yeon Ryu (-13) coming down the final back nine, but excited that a fellow rookie was able to clinch the victory.
“I’m really happy for Minjee,” Alison Lee said. “Her and I go way back. We have had like a little rivalry since we were young. So proud of her. She’s a great player.”
A RETURN TO FORM
So Yeon Ryu, the No. 7 player in the world, tied for third a year ago with 15 top-10 finishes. So it was noticeably weird to see five tournaments go by without Ryu making an appearance in the top 10. On the year, Ryu had only finished in the top 10 twice in nine events entering this week. But Ryu got right back to form this week, making birdie on Nos. 15, 16 and 17 Sunday and Monday to backdoor her way into a second-place finish – her best of the season.
“You know what? I really enjoyed this tournament and I really enjoyed my golf,” Ryu said. “That’s a huge positive thing. I couldn’t really enjoy my golf last couple weeks. So I think I got a really good and positive feel.”
Ryu’s an admitted perfectionist and says she’s trying to focus less on the results and more on enjoying the process and being positive. Still, the return to form comes just in time for Ryu with major championships coming up in three of the next eight events.
As a result of the looming majors, Ryu has decided not to return to California this week and instead will join Inbee Park at Westchester Country Club in New York and Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania over the next week for practice rounds in advance of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and U.S. Women’s Open before heading to Atlantic City for the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer next week.
“We both live in west coast. It’s a bit annoying to going back and forth, so we just decided to stay here,” Ryu said.
SHOW ME THE EAGLES
"Wounded Warrior Project weekends started on the LPGA Tour a year ago with $1,000 being donated by the CME Group to the Wounded Warrior Project for every eagle holed by a player on the weekend of LPGA Tour events until the final tournament of the year – the CME Group Tour Championship. Then, for the season finale, the amount will swell to $5,000 for each eagle recorded during the weekend and a formal check is presented to the Wounded Warrior Project during the trophy ceremony.
A year ago, $300,000 was raised and presented to the Wounded Warrior Project. Now with 21 eagles this weekend at the Kingsmill Championship, the donation for 2015 has already soared into six digits with 114 eagles earning $114,000 pledged from the CME Group.
To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org."
STATS AND STUFF
•21-There were 21 eagles recorded on the weekend including Minjee Lee’s on 15 to give her a four stroke lead.
•7- Minjee Lee becomes the seventh player to win on the LPGA before her 19th birthdaySo Yeon Ryu’s best finish in 2015 was a T4 at the HSBC Womens Champions
•19- With her win, Minjee Lee moves 40 spots in the Rolex World Women’s Golf Rankings from No. 59 to No. 19
•65- Minjee Lee shot a final round 65, to have all four of her rounds in the 60s (269 total)
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Pretty damn good!” - Minjee Lee on how it feels to get her first win
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