Find the latest news on all our Western Australian professional golfers travelling around the globe.
Minjee Lee is having a career-best season on the LPGA Tour in 2018; however that major victory still eludes the 22-year-old, could it be this week?
The Ricoh Women’s British Open will take centre stage this week at the infamous Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Links in Lancashire, with the world’s best female golfers vying for the fourth major of the season.
Lee, 22, is in red-hot form heading into the competition; finishing runner-up at the Ladies Scottish Open last week.
UPDATE: Lee currently leads the field after a blistering opening round of seven-under-par 65.
Hannah Green sits at three-over-par.
The current world number eight will be largely challenged for the title by Ariya Jutanguarn – her record speaks for itself, in the past 25 tournaments- 4 wins, 12 top 10s and no missed cuts. Clearly, she’s the best player on the planet currently.
The Royal Fremantle member will also be looking to rectify missing the cut in 2017.
Hannah Green will tee up in her first British Open, needing a positive result to boost her chances during the back half of the season.
The youngster took some time out over the past month and will be refreshed and ready come 6.41am (local time) tomorrow.
The Fiji International will play host to plenty of WA hopefuls this week as the European Tour moves to the magnificent Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course.
The wonderful course is famous for its vast landscape and beautiful weather, with players chasing a vital win on the competitive tour.
UPDATE: Felton is firing early in the tournament, co-leading after round one with a five-under-par 67 in his opening round. The Gosnells member hammered four birdies and an eagle to propel himself up the leaderboard and into contention. Leaney is the next best placed West Aussie at three-under-par and tied for 5th.
Scoreboard
In total seven Western Australians will take part in the event, with in-form youngsters Jarryd Felton and Braden Becker hoping for positive results. Felton finished ninth in the corresponding event last season.
Veteran’s Stephen Leaney, Scott Strange and Michael Long will be eager for a strong showing, while Daniel Fox and Rick Kulacz round out the contingent of Sandgropers.
Amateurs:
Min Woo Lee and Haydn Barron have begun their quest at the prestigious Western Amateur at Sunset Ridge Country Club in Illinois this week.
The tournament runs a unique and challenging format for the 156 competitors from around the globe. The field will play 18 holes of individual stroke play on Tuesday and Wednesday after which the field will be cut to the low 44 scores and ties. Those remaining will play 36 holes of individual stroke play on Thursday to determine the low 16 finishers. The “Sweet Sixteen” will compete at Match Play on Friday and Saturday to decide the champion.
The Western Amateur’s “Sweet Sixteen” have turned out to be quite the elite group, with 27 major winners since 2000 competing in the final stanza of the event.
UPDATE: Lee is into the final 16 of the Western Amateur after finishing the stroke play rounds at 18-under-par and in a tie for 5th.
Haydn Barron has unfortunately missed the cut after two difficult rounds.
Scoreboard
Former WA Amateur Champion Kirsten Rudgeley is within touching distance of a title victory in the UK, going into the final round of the English Girls’ Open three shots from the lead.
Despite opening the tournament with 78, the Wanneroo member carded a three-under-par 71 in the second round to give herself a strong chance of a vital win.
Connor McKinney and Robbie Morrison sit inside the top 6 of the Men’s Scottish Amateur in Blairgowrie, with WA State Team Member Ben Ferguson also in the running for the title.
