Weekly Wrap - Week 45

WEEK 45 – WEEKLY WRAP

LPGA

Tournament: TOTO Japan Classic

Dates: 6 November – 9 November

Course: Seta Course, Otsu-Shiga

Purse: USD $2.1M

Ozzies in the field: Min Jee Lee, Robyn Choi, Karis Davidson

Once again weather has shortened an event in Asia, this time on the LPGA. Bad weather forced the cancellation of the final round and then the two players tied for the 54 hole lead at -15 were the only players who went out onto the course – for the playoff to determine the champion. Due to the waterlogged fairways the par 5 18th was shortened to a par 3 for the playoff. It only took one hole as Nasa Hataoka made a birdie to prevail over countrywoman Yuna Araki.

Of the Ozzies Karis Davidson was the best finisher at T47 followed by Minjee Lee TY52 and Robyn Choi T58. Unfortunately for Davidson and Choi those results saw then each lose spots on the CME Race to the Globe OOM with Davidson dropping 1 spot to 82nd and Choi 3 spots down to 65th. They have different objectives with Davidson trying to finish inside the top 80 to secure full playing rights next season and Choi trying to get into the top 60 to qualify for the season ending CME Championship. There is one more chance left to improve their respective positions next week at the Annika.

Davidson T47 - USD $7,681

Lee T52 - $6,716

Choi T58 - 5,378

LET

Tournament: Aramco China Championship

Dates: 6 November – 8 November

Course: Mission Hills China – World Cup Course

Purse: USD $2.0M

Ozzies in the field: Kirsten Rudgeley, Kelsey Bennett, Maddison Hinson-Tolchard, Momoka Kobori (NZ), Amelia Garvey (NZ).

A great week for the home players with Ruixin Lie winning in her home town, on her home course at Mission Hills China. Her countrywomen Liqi Zeng and Qianhui Lin finished T2 together with Chiara Tamburlini (SUI). My pick for the week Roni Yin was T6 so it was fantastic viewing for the hordes of Chinese fans who turned out to watch their compatriots.

In the teams event Team Rhodes led by Mimi Rhodes (captain) Kristýna Napoleaová, Trichat Cheenglab, Kultida Pramphun, took 1st place. Team Rudgeley who had Kelsey Bennet in the team finished 9th of the 26 teams.

Of the Ozzies Kelsey Bennett was the best finisher on T13. Another top 15 finish for the Mollymook member but she might rue the five par 5’s which she played in +1 over the final day. No doubt the highlight of her last round was the hole-in-one on the 13th. Kirsten Rudgeley and Amelia Garvey (NZ) finished T31 and Madison Hinson-Tolchard and Momoka kobori (NZ) missed the cut.

The top 70 in the Order of Merit now head to Spain to play in the season finale Andalucia Costa Del Sol Open de Espana presented by OYSHO which will determine the winner and final positions on the OOM. Bennett 25th, Rudgeley 29th and Hinson-Tolchard 31st, all qualify for the end of year Championship. The top 10 in the final OOM get entry into the LPGA Q Series Final Qualifying Stage starting December 4. The LET tournament finishes on 30 November so if any of them want to play LPGA Final Stage Q Series it will be straight onto a plane to Alabama USA.

Bennett –T13 - €24,240

Rudgeley T31 - €11,409

Garvey T31 - €11,409

Maddison Hinson-Tolchard - MC

Momoka Kobori (NZ) - MC

DP World Tour

Tournament: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Dates: 6 -9 November

Course: Yas Links GC, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Purse: USD $9.0M

Ozzies in the field: Elvis Smylie, Daniel Hillier (NZ), Kazuma Kobori (NZ),

If you didn’t enjoy watching this tournament then there is no help for you. A final round 62 from Rory McIlroy had him momentarily in the lead late on Sunday but ultimately he fell one shot short of the leading scores of -25 set by Aaron Rai and Tommy Fleetwood. After a bogey on 14 Rai birdied 16 & 17 to make the playoff. Rai and Fleetwoed then went back to18 tee for the playoff. Due to the strong wind neither player was ever going to be able to hit the par 5 in 2 so it was inevitably a chip-off which was won by Rai. He secures his second Rolex Series event.

This is a great event with an international leaderboard with players from England. Denmark, Northern Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, Scotland, Ireland, Japan and South Africa filling the top 15 results. Played on a stunning course it usually produces great finishes and, in this writers humble opinion this event and the DP World Championship produce far better golf and television that the PGA Tour FedExCup playoffs.

The lone Ozzie was Elvis Smylie who, whilst he had a good week, actually went backwards in the Race to Dubai rankings and the all important top ten. Starting round four at T12 and after birdies on his opening two holes it looked like it could be a great day but things stalled and he finished with an even par 72 to finish T32. This pushed Smylie down three spots to number twenty on the Race to Dubai rankings. Top ten (not otherwise exempt) get a PGA Tour Card after next week. Tenth spot is currently held by Jordan Smith who is in 15th place. So next week Smylie has to beat Smith and the players between himself and Smith who are Martin Couvra, Daniel Hillier and Rasmus Neergard-Petersen. With double points again up for grabs it’s not impossible but seems a tall order. Even he falls at this hurdle it’s been a great first season for the young Queenslander. Season earnings of just over €1.0M (about AUD $1.7M) and a likely top 25 finish in the rankings must rate as a huge success.

Elvis Smylie T32 - €59,054

Tournament: Final Stage Q School

Dates: 7 November – 12 November

Course: Infinitum Golf, Tarragona Spain (Lakes and Hills Courses)

Ozzies in the field: Jack Buchanan, Curtis Luck, Harrison Crowe, Tyler Wood, Jack Thompson, Connor McKinney, Sam Jones (NZ).

As we go to print the 108 hole event is at the half way stage with the completion of round 3. One more round to go before a cut to the top 60 and ties. Currently still in contention or thereabouts are:

Connor McKinney T5

Quinnton Croker T34

Jack Thompson T50

Curtis Luck 57

Jack Buchanan T62

Harrison Crowe T86 (only 2 shots from 60th)

Eddie Pepperell T24

Yannik Paul T70

Legends Tour

Tournament: Champions UK plc European Senior Masters

Dates: 7 November – 9 November

Course: La Manga Club, Murcia

Ozzies in the field: Nichael Campbell (NZ), Michael Long (NZ)

Welshman Jamie Donaldson prevailed in Spain with a final round 5 under 67 to win by one shot. A further shot back in T5 was Kiwi Michael Campbell who held the lead until 3 bogeys on the back nine on Sunday curtailed his chances.

The Legends move onto Asia for the final three tournaments of the season where Ozzie Scott Hend will be looking to hang on to his substantial lead in the OOM.

Michael Campbell (NZ) T5

Michael Long (NZ) T21

Asian Tour

Tournament: Moutai Singapore Open

Dates: 6 November – 9 November

Course: The Singapore Island Country Club

Purse: USD $2.0M

Ozzies in the field: Marcus Fraser, Brett Coletta, Ryan Peake, Wade Ormsby, Travis Smyth, Maverick Antcliff, Scot Hend, Aaron Wilkin, Kevin Yuan, Jed Morgan, Jack Thompson, Brett Rankin, John Lyras, Todd Sinnott, Lawry Flynn, Harry Takis (a), Nick Voke (NZ), Denzel Ieremia (NZ), Ben Campbell (NZ)

Yosuke Asaji from Japan prevailed over Jeunghun Wang from South Korea following a playoff. Asaji won on the first playoff hole making birdie while Wang found the water with his second shot and could only muster a bogey. The win moves Asaji into second place on the International Series Rankings behind Scott Vincent.

Kevin Yuan was the best of the Ozzies at T6 followed by Scott Hend at T11. Young amateur Harry Takis had a respectable T30 finish. Surprisingly Wade Ormsby who won just a few weeks ago, missed the cut.

Kevin Yuan T6 – USD $57,533

Scot Hend T11 – $29,442

Harry Takis (a)

Denzel Ieremia (NZ) T50 - $8,800

Marcus Fraser T57 - $7,300

Travis Smyth T59 - $6,700

Brett Coletta, Ryan Peake, Wade Ormsby, Maverick Antcliff, Aaron Wilkin, Jed Morgan, Jack Thompson, Brett Rankin, John Lyras, Todd Sinnott, Lawry Flynn, Nick Voke (NZ), Ben Campbell (NZ) all missed the cut.

AUS PGA Legends Tour

Tournament: Sharp EIT Solutions Australian PGA Senior Championship

Dates: 7 November – 9 November

Course: Richmond Golf Club

Purse: AUD $160,000

Ozziegolf ventured out to Richmond GC on Friday and Sunday to catch some of the action at the Australian Seniors Masters. On Sunday it seemed pretty clear that from the leading group Jason Norris and David McKenzie looked most likely to take the win. McKenzie looked rock solid in the early part of his round but a couple of errant drives late on proved costly. Ultimately it was Jason Norris with some power play from the tee and deft approaches who sat at the top of the leaderboard at plays end.

A second national seniors title for Norris on a trophy with some true legend names including Lee Trevino.

PGA Tour

Tournament: World Wide Technology Championship

Dates: 6-9 November

Course: El Cardonal at Diamante

Purse:USD $6.0M

Ozzies in the field: NIL

You may wonder why the PGA Tour is at the end of results list. Two reasons. First - no Ozzies playing and second – it is the least interesting of all tournaments being played this week (IMO).The only interesting thing about these fall events is watching the 5 players on either side of the 100 spot on the FedEx rankings.

For the record Ben Griffin recorded his third win of the season coming from behind to win by two from Sami Valimaki and Chad Ramey who both secured their card for next season with this result. On the FedexCup rankings Valimaki moved from 103 to 76 and Ramey went from 123 to 89. Both these results more meaningful than Griffin adding another million dollars to his season earnings of approximately USD $10M. The move upward by Valimaki and Ramey bumps Ozzie Adam Scott down to 103.