HENDERSON FIGHTS HER WAY INTO CONTENTION
The phrase “give up” is not in Brooke Henderson’s dictionary. That was never truer than this week at the Pure Silk Championship. During her second round, Henderson found herself out of bounds off the first tee and ended up making an eight on the par 4. Despite the tough start on Friday she never gave up on herself and fought her way back to even par thanks to an eagle-birdie-birdie stretch (holes 7-9).
Flash forward to the third round and Henderson blazed her way around the Kingsmill Resort with eight birdies, including a birdie on the first hole, to head into the final round just one shot off the lead at 12-under par.
“I finished really strong yesterday, which was really important for me, making a lot of birdies and feeling confident on the course again after a tough start,” Henderson said on Saturday. “But going out today I wanted to birdie the first hole and I was able to do that, which was awesome and kept the momentum going throughout the round.”
Henderson is looking for her second win of the 2019 LPGA season, joining her win at the LOTTE Championship. In each of the last three seasons (2016-2018) Henderson has recorded two wins.
LAW READY FOR ANOTHER SHOT AT AN LPGA TITLE
Bronte Law ended the third round the same way she ended the second – tied for the lead – and is now poised to win her first LPGA Tour title at the Pure Silk Championship presented by Visit Williamsburg. Though she birdied six times throughout the day, it was her final one on the 18th that secured her spot next to Nasa Hataoka at the top at -13.
“It was massive,” said Law on her final shot. “I was really trying to make one more birdie coming in. Didn't quite make the one on 16 or 17, so I was -- had my last shot on 18 to make that birdie to make that final pairing and stay ahead, which is something that I've been trying to go for each day and just keep pushing and pushing and making more birdies.”
Law had the chance at a win three weeks ago at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship, when her 7-under final round landed her in a playoff with Jeongeun Lee6 and eventual winner Sei Young Kim. With a victory again within reach, Law said she feels ready to take it. “I mean, obviously winning is everything, right?” said the 24-year-old. “That's why we play this game. I'm going to do my very best to go out and get the win.”
Law is not letting the pressure of playing with Hataoka, who has already won in 2019 at the Kia Classic, get to her going into Sunday. “There are a lot of good players out here. I don't really pinpoint like individual players. I just know there is a lot of talent on the LPGA, and on the day there are plenty of people that can shoot low numbers,” said Law. “Hoping to go out there and have a good time with her. Hopefully we can push each other and have some fun out there.”
WITH A WIN…
Nasa Hataoka would earn her fourth career victory and visit the winner’s circle for the second time in 2019 after winning at the Kia Classic
Hataoka would become the second multiple winner of 2019 along with Jin Young Ko (Bank of Hope Founders Cup, ANA Inspiration)
With a $195,000 winner’s check, Hataoka would project to move from 14th into fourth on the 2019 LPGA Tour Money List with $528,570. She would move from 170 on the Career Money List to 141 with $2,354,253
Bronte Law would earn her first career victory on the LPGA Tour
Law would become the season’s second Rolex First-Time Winner, joining Celine Boutier
Law would be the first Englishwoman to win on the LPGA Tour since Georgia Hall won the 2018 AIG British Women’s Open
With her ninth victory, Brooke Henderson would have the most wins in history by a Canadian player on the LPGA and PGA Tours
Jennifer Song would earn her first career victory on the LPGA Tour and would become the second American winner of 2019, joining Nelly Korda (ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open)
PLAYER NOTES
Rolex Rankings No. 5 Nasa Hataoka (68-67-65—200)
- Hataoka’s third-round 65 is her second-lowest round of the season; she shot a 64 in the third round of her win at the 2019 Kia Classic
- She hit 12 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens
- This is the first time Hataoka has lead/co-lead following the third round of a 72-hole event; she held the lead following the second round of her win at the 54-hole 2018 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship
- Hataoka is in her third season on the LPGA Tour; she is a three-time winner
- This is Hataoka’s seventh event of the 2019 LPGA Tour season; she has three top-20 finishes including a victory at the Kia Classic
- Hataoka is competing in her third Pure Silk Championship; she missed the cut in 2017, and lost in a playoff to Ariya Jutanugarn in 2018
Rolex Rankings No. 41 Bronte Law (65-68-67—200)
- Law’s 54-hole 200 is a career-best mark; her previous best 54-hole score was 203, most recently shot at the 2019 Bank of Hope Founders Cup
- Law has held a share of the lead in the first three rounds for the first time in her LPGA Tour career
- She hit 11 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens
- Law is in her third year on the LPGA Tour; her career-best finish was in her last start where she lost in a playoff at the 2019 LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
- She is competing in her third Pure Silk Championship presented by Visit Williamsburg; her best finish is T36 in 2017
- This is Law’s 10th event of the 2019 season; she has four top-20 finishes including a runner-up finish at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship
- In 2018, Law made 22 cuts in 25 events, with five top-10 finishes
- She represented Team England at the 2018 UL International Crown; the team finished T2 with 11 points
- Law played collegiately at UCLA, where she won the 2016 ANNIKA Award and was the 2016 Pac-12 Player of the Year
- She holds the UCLA record for most career wins with seven
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