ZCZC
BSP-01
GOLF-USLPGA
Australia’s Lee roars to victory at LA Open
LOS ANGELES, April 29, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Australia’s Minjee Lee pulled away
from the field with a closing round of three-under 68 to capture the LA Open
by four strokes and earn her fifth career USLPGA Tour title.
The 22-year-old from Perth finished at 14-under 270, four strokes ahead of
runner-up Kim Sei-young of South Korea.
Lee collected $225,000 in first place prize money and boosted her career
earnings to $5.32 million, making her the third highest winning Australian
overall in purse money.
In terms of victories only Karrie Webb, with 41, Jan Stephenson (16) and
Rachel Hetherington (eight) have more titles by an Aussie.
Lee started her fourth round on Sunday with a one-stroke lead over
Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen who stumbled to a five-over 76.
“I was just going to carry on playing my game,” said Lee. “I had a couple
of birdies opportunities coming in so I didn’t get riled up.
“I have been hitting it solid and playing solid so this one feels pretty
good.”
Kim had one of the best rounds of the day with a 66 but it wasn’t enough
to catch Lee. Americans Annie Park, with a 67, and Morgan Pressel tied for
third at nine-under, five shots adrift of Lee.
Madsen, who was seeking to become the first from Denmark to win on the
Tour, finished in a tie for 13th.
Lee, who was the only player to shoot all four rounds in the 60s, made two
birdies on a bogey-free front nine. She rebounded from a bogey at No. 11 with
birdies at the 13th and 18th.
The win comes at a time when she is playing some of her best golf. Lee
tied for third in Hawaii last week after consecutive second-place finishes in
February. She hadn’t won since May of 2018 at the Volvik Championship.
“For the rest of year I want to try and get a couple more wins,” she said.
South Korea’s Amy Yang fired the low round of the day and equalled the low
round of the tournament, shooting a bogey-free 64 to finish tied for fifth
along with four others, including Park In-bee and world No. 1 Ko Jin-young of
South Korea (69).
BSS/AFP/MSY/0910 hrs