Swede Moberg wins World Hickory Golf Championship
Ariya takes 1-shot lead with 66 in Shanghai
FRENCH LICK, Indiana, Oct 18, (AP): Laura Davies won the Senior LPGA Championship on Wednesday at chilly and windy French Lick Resort to sweep the two senior major events of the year.
Davies birdied the final hole for a 2-under 70 and a four-stroke victory over Helen Alfredsson and Silvia Cavalleri. Still active on the LPGA Tour, the 55-year-old Englishwoman won the inaugural US Senior Women’s Open by 10 strokes in July at Chicago Golf Club.
“This is fantastic,” Davies said. “Winning the US (Senior) Women’s Open was a real thrill, and this is a golf course that I didn’t think I could win on. So for me, this is a real victory. I’ve always played OK around here, but I’ve never strung three rounds together, I’ve always had one big number, so this is nice.”
Davies led wire-to-wire, finishing at 8-under 208 on The Pete Dye Course.
“I wish there were more of them to play,” Davies said about the two senior majors. “This was a real treat because I’ve never put three good rounds together on this course. With the wind today and the challenging EAST LOTHIAN, Scotland, Oct 18, (RTRS): Swedish professional Johan Moberg expertly wielded his niblick, mashie and other pre-1936 wooden golf clubs through the blustery Scottish weather to become the World Hickory golf champion.
Dressed in a bow tie, flatcap and with traditional plus four golfing trousers, Moberg edged out more than 120 amateurs and professionals to land the title which celebrates the sport’s heritage.
“The feeling is tremendous,” the Swedish professional said after his two round total of 144 on Wednesday.
He joins an elite group of past
86th worldwide professional victory. In March in Phoenix, she tied for second behind Inbee Park in the LPGA Tour’s Founders Cup.
“She’s always been an amazing golfer,” Alfredsson said. “I think for us it’s a bit different for us who only play about twice a year. Not to take anything away from her, she is an amazing player. But it’s a little bit different when you play tournaments regularly still.”
Juli Inkster followed an 80 with a 73 to tie for 12th at 6 over.
In Shanghai, Ariya Jutanugarn shot a 6-under 66 to take a onestroke lead after the first round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai tournament on Thursday.
The Thai player had six birdies in a bogey-free round, including three straight on Nos. 4, 5, and 6.
“I always have so much fun when I play in Asia,” said Jutanugarm,
Ariya
winners, which include former US Masters and British Open champion Sandy Lyle.
The event, which started in 2005 when a small group assembled for a friendly game on the Old Course at Musselburgh, was played on two courses this year; at Luffness New golf club and Gullane 3, East Lothian, 14 miles (22km) east of Edinburgh.
Competitors play with original or replica hickory shafted clubs carried in a thin, leather bag. Hickory clubs are notoriously unforgiving and hitting the ball long distances is tricky. Rhythm and balance is required rather than force and accuracy.
who added her key was “just not to expect anything. Just go out have fun and enjoy everything.”
Sei Young Kim and Danielle Kang (both 67) were one shot back, with six other players only two shots off the lead.
The tournament is the second of five being played in South Korea, Japan, China and Taiwan in the LPGA’s annual Asian swing.
Kang credited her improved play to new coach Butch Harmon.
“We just kind of simplify the game a lot,” the American said. “Just trying to calm it down and get back to how I used to play. Just more feel golf. Thinking less mechanics and going with the flow.”
Kang tied for third last week at the KEB Hana Bank championship in Incheon, South Korea.
“Today’s round went very smooth,” Kang said. “Coming off very good momentum after last week, and I’ve been hitting the ball really well, playing great. I’ve just been trusting my game and just keep giving myself birdie chances. They kept rolling in.” and tied for 11th which included Paul Casey and Hideki Matsuyama.
Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker shot 72. Defending champion Justin Thomas had a 73, as did Jason Day, Ernie Els and J.B. Holmes.
Marc Leishman, who won last week’s CIMB Classic in Malaysia, and Adam Scott had 75s.
Reavie’s only PGA Tour win came at the 2008 Canadian Open, and he finished second in back-to-back starts last year in Phoenix and Pebble Beach, losing at Phoenix in a playoff.
“It was a great day, I hit the ball really well,” Reavie said of Thursday’s round. “The wind was blowing really hard all day long so you had to really start the ball well and keep it out of the wind. Luckily, I was able to do that.”
Despite the windy conditions, Reavie found all 14 fairways off the tee and hit 15 out of 18 greens in regulation, which he felt was the key to a good score.
“It’s tough because once you get above the hole with this wind, it’s really hard to chip it close,” he said. “The more greens you can hit, the better and that was key to my game.”
Willett, who has struggled with injuries and form since winning the 2016 Masters and has dropped to No. 342 in the world, made five birdies and two bogeys in his 69. Willett has just one top-five finish since finishing second in the Italian Open in September 2016.
Danny Willett of England tees off on the first hole during the first round of the CJ Cup golf tournament at Nine Bridges golf club in Jeju Island
on Oct 18. (AFP)