Weekly Wrap - Week 31

LET & LPGA

Tournament: AIG Women’s Open

Dates: 30 July – 2 August

Course: Royal Lytham & St Annes

Purse: USD $10.0M

Ozzies in the field: Minjee Lee, Hannah Green, Grace Kim, Steph Kyriacou, Cassie Porter, Robyn Choi, Karis Davidson, Kelsey Bennett, Justice Bosio, Amelia Garvey (NZ), Lydia Ko (NZ)

The conclusion of the Ozziegolf preview for the final major of the year said that, in addition to the listed favourites, there another 30 players that could win. Two of those 30 were Ester Henseleit and Shiho Kuwaki who both finished at -5 after 72 holes of regulation play. Henseleit was in the final group and Kuwaki was playing a couple of groups ahead of Henseleit. With a few holes to play they were level at -5. Henseleit bogeyed the 16th as Kuwaki made par on her 18th to take the clubhouse lead.

Henseleit came to her final hole one behind Kuwaki and her approach left her a long way from the hole. She stepped up and holed a 25 foot birdie putt on the last to join Kuwaki at -5 and the pair headed to a playoff.

Yealimi Noh started the day with a three shot lead but her final round of 74 saw her finish one shot behind Kuwaki and Henseleit. She had a chance to join the leaders with a long birdie putt on the 18th but it fell short as did her score and she would finish third.

Only Henseleit could match the Japanese player and so off they went back down the 18 for a sudden death playoff. It took two playings of the 18th to get a winner. On the second playoff hole Henseleit’s drive got an incredibly bad bounce of a spectator into the heather and she eventually missed her par putt leaving Kuwaki a short par putt for the win.

Best of the Ozzies was Hannah Green at a tie for 29th followed by Robyn Choi at T47. Choi started the final day in a tie for 16th but unfortunately a +7 final round dropped her to a tie for 47th. Ultimately a disappointing showing form the majority of our Ozzies with seven of the eleven starters missing the cut.

Thus ends the major season for golf and we have to wait until April 2027 for our next taste of major golf in the men’s and women’s game.

1st Shiho Kuwaki – USD $1.5M

T20 Lydia Ko (NZ) - $109,799

T23 Amelia Garvey (NZ) - $92,423

T29 Hannah Green - $72,345

T47 Robyn Choi - $35,230

MC Cassie Porter, Minjee Lee, Karis Davidson, Kelsey Bennett, Grace Kim, Steph Kyriacou, Justice Bosio.

LETAS

Tournament: Women’s Irish Challenge

Dates: 29-31 July

Course: Malahide Golf Club

Purse: €45,000

Ozzies in the field: Kristalle Blum, Amy Walsh, Belinda Ji, Munchin Keh (NZ), Hanee Song (NZ), Wenyung Keh (NZ), Elmay Viking (Cook Islands)

Just like last week’s winner Beth Coulter has won her first tournament as a professional. Coulter turned pro 3 days before the start of the Women’s Irish Challenge and the Irishwomen wasted no time posting her first win and did it on home soil. Coulter had to survive a sudden death playoff and she beat Ayeon Yang on the first playoff hole.

Coulter was part of the amazing victorious 2024 Curits Cup team that included Mimi Rhodes and Lotte Woad. She looks destined to follow their lead and be a significant force in women’s golf.

1st Beth Coulter - €7,200

T21 Munchin Keh (NZ) - €656

MC Elmay Viking, Amy Walsh, Kristalle Blum, Wenyung Keh (NZ), Hanee Song (NZ)

PGA Tour

Tournament: Rocket Classic

Dates: 30 July – 2 August

Course: Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, MI

Purse: USD $10.0M

Ozzies in the field: Cam Davis, Karl Vilips, Ryan Ruffels

Michael Thorbjornsen clinched his first PGA Tour victory. Playing in the third last group he came to the last hole with a one shot lead and then holed a 25 foot birdie putt to take his lead to two. The win puts him well inside the top 70 and he can look forward to the end of season playoffs. Thorbjornsen, the Stanford graduate, won the 2018 Junior US Amateur beating Akshay Bhatia.

1st Michael Thorbjornsen – USD $1.8M

T65 Karl Vilips - $21,300

MC Ryan Ruffels, Cam Davis

Korn Ferry Tour

Tournament: Utah Open presented by Zions Bank and Intermountain Health

Dates: 30 July – 2 August

Course: Ogden Golf & Country Club, Ogden UT

Purse: USD $1.0M

Ozzies in the field: Rhein Gibson

Nothing like a five man playoff to decide the title. Derek Hitchner birdied the first playoff hole to defeat his four playoff competitors. Hitchner was the overnight leader and converted that lead for his first win in his 18th KF Tour start.

1st Derek Hitchner – USD $180,000

MC Rhein Gibson

PGA Champions Tour & Legends Tour

Tournament: Portugal Invitational

Dates: July 31 – 2 August

Course: The Els Club Vilamoura Algarve

Purse: USD $3.0M

Ozzies in the field: Steve Allan, Stuart Appleby, Greg Chalmers, Richard Green, Scott Hend, Mark Hensby, Rod Pampling, Cameron Percy, Michael Wright, Michael Campbell (NZ)

Our theory that not advocating for an Ozzie win might get the job done has failed. Zac Johnson won by two shots over Stewart Cink. Best of the Ozzies was Cam Percy in a tie for ninth.

1st Zach Johnson – USD $450,000

T9 Cam Percy - $75,000

T17 Steve Allan - $39,986

T24 Scott Hend - $30,750

T26 Mark Hensby - $26,700

T30 Michael Wright - $20,288

T38 Greg Chalmers, Rod Pampling - $15,600

T42 Richard Green - $13,800

T46 Stuart Appleby - $10,200

T52 Michael Campbell - $6,943

Hotel Planner Tour

Tournament: Infortar Estonian Challenge 2026

Dates: 30 July – 2 August

Course: Estonian Golf & Country Club, Tallin, Joelahtme,

Purse: €300,000

Ozzies in the field: Daniel Gale, Haydn Barron, Sam Jones (NZ), Quinnton Croker (3rd Alternate)

Rory Franssen secured his first HotelPlanner Tour victory with a three shot win over Andrew Wilson. Best of the Australasians was kiwi Sam Jones at T46.

1st Rory Franssen - €48,000

T46 Sam Jones - €1,301

MC Daniel Gale, Haydn Barron

KLPGA

Claire Shin is not in this weeks tournament

Amateur Tournaments

The US Women’s Amateur Championship starts on Monday 3 August at The Honors Course, Ooltewah, TN. Six Ozzies will tee it up for the 36 holes of stroke play over the first two days. After that the top 64 will move to matchplay. The Ozzies starting on Monday are: Ella Scaysbrook, Sue Wooster, Raegan Denton, Grace Lee, Amy Hodgkins, Jazy Roberts. Good luck to all our Ozzies a the US Women’s Amateur.