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POSSIBLE THREE PEAT IN SAN FRANCIS-KO
Lydia Ko successfully defended her title at Lake Merced a year ago, marking the second time she has successfully defended a title (2012 & 2013 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open). This week, she’ll have a chance to add her name to an esteemed list of players to win the same event three consecutive years. If Ko can defend once again, she’ll become just the 10th player in LPGA history to win the same event three years in a row. Annika Sorenstam is the only player in history to do it more than once and holds the all-time record of five consecutive wins at the Mizuno Classic (2001-2005).
This event is one Ko holds close to her heart – or rather her wrist. The 18-year old has the date of her first win as an LPGA member two years ago tattooed on her wrist in Roman numerals. She has also been the birthday girl the past two years during tournament week and will once again celebrate her birthday at the Bay Area stop, celebrating her 19th birthday on Sunday.
The No. 1 ranked player in the world has been stellar so far in 2016, notching five top-3 finishes in seven LPGA starts including back-to-back wins at the Kia Classic and the ANA Inspiration. This week will mark the 26th consecutive week holding the top spot in the Rolex Rankings and the 45th week overall.
LEE FRESH OFF A WIN & SUCCESSFUL AT LAKE MERCED
Minjee Lee will come into the week fresh off her second-career LPGA Tour victory and first of the 2016 season. Lee shot a final-round 64 on Sunday at the LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY to edge out In Gee Chun and Katie Burnett by one shot. Lee’s first victory came last season during her rookie campaign at the Kingsmill Championship and made only 26 starts between her two wins. With her victory, the 19-year old moved from No. 17 to No. 12 in the Rolex Rankings. Lee also crossed $1 million mark in career earnings with her win last week. She has one additional top-10 finish this year (T8 at Honda LPGA Thailand) and three top-20 finishes.
She overtook LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member and mentor Karrie Webb as the top-ranked Australian last July and currently is set to represent Australia in the UL International Crown and the Olympics.
The Aussie has had success at Lake Merced and won the U.S. Girls’ Junior as a 16-year old in 2012. She defeated Alison Lee in the 36-hole final, overcoming a three-hole deficit in the final six holes.
RUNAWAY ROOKIE RACE?
First-year LPGA Tour member In Gee Chun has already made her case that the Rolex Louise Suggs Rookie of the Year could be a complete runaway by the 21-year old. Chun has been impressive in her four starts in her rookie campaign and has notably bounced back from a back injury that sidelined her for three events in March.
She currently leads the Rookie of the Year race with 395 points while Megan Khang is the closest pursuer 218 points behind. Chun, the reigning U.S. Women’s Open champion, is still searching for her first win as an LPGA member but it seems only like a matter of time she will break into the winner’s circle.
Chun leads the Tour in putting average (28.06), ranks second in scoring average (69.00), third in Rolex Player of the Year Points (trailing only two-time winners Lydia Ko and Ha Na Jang) and fifth on the Official Money List ($431,828).
This will be Chun’s first appearance at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic and first look at Lake Merced.
In Gee Chun's Record in 2016:
| Event | Scores | Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Coates Golf Championship | 68-72-70-70=2801 (-8) | T3 |
| Honda LPGA Thailand | 69-69-66-70=274 (-14) | 2 |
| ANA Inspiration | 69-69-69-70=277 (-11) | T2 |
| LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY | 72-67-65-67=273 (-15) | T2 |
GOOD MEMORIES FOR HENDERSON
Brooke Henderson made just her second start of the LPGA season last year at Lake Merced and took a third place finish as a sign that she belonged. As a then 17-year old, Henderson was not yet a member of the Tour but used a strong showing at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic to build on what would become a successful 2015 campaign and eventually earn LPGA status. She finished just one shot out of a playoff with Morgan Pressel and Lydia Ko and went on to record two top-5 finishes in majors and a win at the Cambia Portland Classic in August.
Henderson, in her official second year on Tour in 2016, has been knocking on the door for win No. 2. She’s currently on a streak of seven consecutive top-10 finishes and coming off a T10 at the LOTTE Championship.
Last year at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, Henderson was ranked No. 207 in the Rolex Rankings. This week she is ranked 7th in the world.
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