Minjee Lee missed U.S. Women’s Open qualifying Monday in order to finish her round at the rain delayed Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC, but found another way to earn her way into the major championship by carding a season best 65 to get her first win on the LPGA Tour.
Rookie Minjee Lee returned to the course Monday morning with a four-stroke lead after making five birdies and an eagle following the weather delay Sunday. She teed off at the 16th hole just as the horn blew for darkness, but chose to mark her ball on the fringe rather than finishing the hole, making it her first hole Monday morning.
“I three putted the 16th and I was like ugh, let’s make two pars and get out of here. I was nervous but I’m glad I could get the win,” Minjee Lee said Monday.
Minjee Lee made bogey on her opening hole, which Alison Lee followed with a birdie at the 15th hole to cut the lead in half. Needing an eagle on the 18th hole to force a playoff, Alison Lee nearly found the water off the tee and made bogey to finish T-3 at 12-under par.
“This has been a really interesting week playing on Sunday in the final group then having to come in and finish on Monday,” Alison Lee said after her round. “It’s a new learning experience every week, even though I didn’t come out on top this week I learned a lot.”
Like Minjee Lee, she missed U.S. Women’s Open qualifying Monday in Richmond, Virginia. She says she is talking with the USGA to try and get a spot in the qualifier Tuesday in California.
So Yeon Ryu made a run Monday morning, making birdie on three of her last four holes to move to 13-under par and finish solo second. Ryu spoke earlier in the week about her work with Ian Baker Finch on enjoying golf again and letting that translate into her play on the course, which was evident this week at Kingsmill.
“I really enjoyed this tournament and I really enjoyed my golf,” Ryu said Monday. “That's a huge positive thing. I couldn't really enjoy my golf last couple weeks. I so think I got really good and positive feel.”
Paula Creamer looked to have some positive vibes Sunday afternoon, making two birdies after the weather delay, but made pars the rest of the way to finish at 10-under par, five strokes back of the lead.
The LPGA Tour has the week off before returning to action May 29 at the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer.
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