WA golfers have been showing fine form on tours across the globe, from local Pro-Ams all the way up to the world’s biggest stage at the US Open.
Min Woo Lee continued to cement his status as one of the most exciting up-and-coming talents in the world game with a T5th finish at the US Open – his best finish at a Major to date.
The 24-year-old Royal Fremantle player hit three rounds in the 60s at Los Angeles Country Club for a five-under-par closing total that saw him finish alongside Rickie Fowler and Tommy Fleetwood, five shots behind Wyndham Clark’s winning total.
Lee pocketed US$738,934 for his week’s work, which will almost certainly be enough for him to secure full-time playing rights on the PGA Tour next season.
Meanwhile, in Michigan, Lee’s big sister Minjee Lee achieved a top 15 finish at the Meijer LPGA Classic in Michigan. Earnings of more than AU$55,000 moved Lee up to 21st in the LPGA Money List and suggest she’s finding her A Game ahead of Major season, which sees four Major titles up for grabs over the next seven weeks.
In the same event, Hannah Green finished T50th. She sits in 16th place in the Money List with winnings of nearly US$750,000 from eight events in 2023.
In Europe, Connor McKinney contested the Challenge Tour’s Kaskáda Golf Challenge in the Czech Republic, finishing in T5th at -7 for the week and earning approximately AU$17,000.
In nearby Germany, Kirsten Rudgely continued her solid debut season on the Ladies’ European Tour with a T22nd finish in the Amundi German Masters. Her winnings of AU$6,600 move Rudgeley to 42nd in the LET Order of Merit – leaving her well in contention to make the top 64 pros that will qualify for the season-ending Race to Costa Del Sol.
Hayden Hopewell achieved his first pro victory at the Spalding Park Open
Closer to home, the WA Swing of the annual adidas PGA Pro-Am Series witnessed significant results for Hayden Hopewell and Ryan Peake, who both scored their first professional victories.
Spurred on by a course-record 10-under-par 62 in his first round, Hopewell charged to a six-stroke victory at the Mitchell and Brown Spalding Park Open. The Royal Fremantle golfer previously won on the PGA Tour of Australasia when he claimed the 2020 WA Open as an amateur.
Peake matched Hopewell’s achievements the following week at the Karratha Pro-Am, as he posted a five-under-par 68 at Karratha GC to record a three-shot win. Better was yet to come for the left-hander as he held off Hopewell to clinch the Roy Hill Golf Classic Pro-Am at Port Hedland GC by one stroke with an 11-under-par 26-hole total around the sand greens track.
Another WA pro who entered the winning circle for the first time was Jose De Sousa, who took out the rain-affected South West Open at Bunbury. His first-round six-under 66 was enough to secure De Sousa the $7,190 first prize after the second round was washed out.
You can follow the progress of WA’s touring professionals around the world here.
