Defending champ feels at home,
NORTH DUMFRIES — Caroline Masson is delighted to be back.
The reigning Manulife LPGA Classic champion was fine-tuning her game at the Whistle Bear Golf Club on Tuesday, approximately nine months after winning the fifth edition of the $1.7million US golf tournament by one stroke over Karine Icher, Minjee Lee, and Mi Hyang Lee.
Masson closed with a four-day total of 16-under 272 to earn a first-place cheque of $240,000 US and her first and only victory on the LPGA Tour.
“Obviously this week is really special to me. It’s my first time defending, and, yeah, I’m just trying to soak it all in and trying to bring back those memories and those feelings that I had last year winning,” said Masson, who is currently No. 58 in the world rankings.
Masson, who hails from Gladbeck, Germany, and resides in Orlando, Fla., has made eight of 10 cuts this season, posted four top-25 finishes and collected $100,379 in earnings.
Her best result was a tie for 10th at the Bank of Hope Founders Cup in March.
In previous visits to this area, which she said reminds her of home, Masson finished in 10th place at the 2014 Manulife tournament at Grey Silo and in a tie for 19th two years ago at Whistle Bear.
“First of all, I love Canada. I don’t know why … reminds me a little bit of home with just how everything looks and how green it is,” she said.
“You know, it’s always important that you feel comfortable where you play. The course just sets up pretty good for me. It fits my eye, I guess. You can’t force that. Sometimes it happens; sometimes it doesn’t.”
The tournament, now in its sixth and possibly final year, has yet to produce a repeat or twotime champion and Masson would obviously like to become the first to do so on both counts. Suzann Pettersen (2015) and Brittany Lang (2012) are the only other former champions in the field.
Who’s here, who’s not
The field includes four of the top six players in the world rankings, including No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand. Jutanugarn finished in a tie for fifth last year, two shots behind Masson. No. 4 Lexi Thompson, No. 5 In Gee Chun, and No. 6 Shanshan Feng are also competing at Whistle Bear this week.
World No. 1 Lydia Ko, who also tied for fifth last year, tops the list of notable absences, along with No. 3 So Yeon Ryu and fan favourites Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer. CHIP SHOTS: The championship pro-am will be played Wednesday, with 24 players going out in the morning and another 24 in the afternoon. Brooke Henderson starts at 8:40 a.m. on the 10th tee, Alena Sharp of Hamilton starts at 7 a.m. on the first tee and Lorie Kane of Charlottetown starts at 7:30 a.m. on the first tee. Other notables include Lexi Thompson (12:50 p.m., first), Pettersen (8:20 a.m., 10th), and Masson (7:50 a.m., first). … Americans Alexandra White and Samantha Postillion earned the final two spots in the tournament at the Monday qualifier. … Mi Hyang Lee has twice recorded three eagles at Whistle Bear, and her six total eagles leads all players at this event. … The field includes 24 LPGA Tour rookies, while Hannah Burke, Min-G Kim and Krista Puisite are making their debut as members. … The Golf Channel will televise all four rounds, Thursday and Friday from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.