Westchester CC proves weak
Concern Westchester Country Club might prove too difficult for the best women golfers in the world proved unwarranted. After four days of competition, the storied course was dominated by the ladies.
Inbee Park led the assault by posting a 19underpar 273 to win the inaugural Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday.
An alarming 33 players shot under par for the tournament, while 40 of the 71 players to make the cut played to par or better. Park’s 19under matched the tournament record of the old LPGA Championship in relation to par first set by Cristie Kerr in 2010 and Yani Tseng in 2011.
Perfect conditions contributed to the lowscoring, but did not dampen the excitement surrounding the tournament.
“It was an amazing week,” Lexi Thompson said. “Itwas a whole different atmosphere than the last fewyears. It definitely felt like a major championship, not only the fans, but also the venue. The course was in great shape.”
Thompson began the day at 5under, but raced up the leader board with eight birdies over her first 13 holes. She got to within four strokes of the lead at one point. A bogey at the par3 16th stalled her rally. She still finished with a 7under 66 and 12under for the tournament. Brooke Henderson, a 17yearold from Canada, shot a 2under 71 to finish 10under for the tournament, and finished tied for fifth. She was playing on an exemption.
Park’s win matched Annika Sorenstam who won three straight LPGA Championships from 20032005. Park revealed she suffered a neck injury early in theweek and didn’t feel like herself in the opening round when she posted a 2under 71.
“I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to play,” she said.