LPGA Tour March Recap

    HSBC Women’s Champions (Singapore March 3 – 6)

    South Korean Ha Na Jang fired a seven under par final round 65 to capture the HSBC Women’s Champions event in Singapore, defeating Pornanong Phatlum by 4 shots and third place Amy Yang by 8 shots. Candie Kung, Ariya Jutangarn, Chella Choi, Na Yeon Choi and Miriam Lee finished in a 5-way tie for 4th place. Solheim Cup Hero Gerina Piller and Stacy Lewis were the top Americans on the final leaderboard finishing at 9 under par in a tie for 9th place with Canadian Brooke Henderson.

    This was the 23-year old Jang’s second LPGA Tour win. She captured the Coates Golf Championship last month. Jang has won 8 times on the LPGA of Korea Tour. She collected $225,000 for the win.

    JTBC Founders Cup (Phoenix, Arizona – March 17 – 20)

    Sei Young Kim of South Korea captured the JTBC Founders Cup with a five shot victory over Lydia Ko, finshing the tournament at 27 under par 261. Kim opened the tournament with a 63 and closed the tournament one shot better with a ten under par final round 62, putting an exclamation point on a great week. The 23-year old South Korean won three times on the LPGA Tour last season. She has won 5 times on the LPGA of Korea Tour. Kim will look to improve her performance in the women’s major championships during the balance of the season. She tied for 4th at last year’s ANA Inspiration, the women’s first major of the year, and second at the Ladies PGA Championship. Paula Creamer and Stacy Lewis were the top Americans in the tournament, tying for 4th place with Brooke Henderson.

    Kia Classic (Carlsbad, California – March 24 – 27)

    World Number One Lydia Ko put on a four-day clinic at the Kia Classic, firing rounds of 68, 67, 67 and 67 on her way to collecting the $255,000 top prize. Ko finished four shots ahead of Inbee Park who finished at 15 under par and seven shots clear of Japan’s Ai Miyazto. This tournament was the final tune up before the women’s first major of the year – the ANA Inspiration. It was Ko’s first LPGA Tour victory of the year after winning five times during the 2015 LPGA season. Ko is still just 18 years old. She will turn 19 on April 24. She became the top-ranked female golfer in February 2015 as a 17-year old. She will attempt to win her second women’s professional major at the ANA Inspiration. She won the Evian Classic, the last major of the 2015 season. Ko has already won 11 times on the LPGA Tour and 16 times as a professional.

    The women will play their first major of the year beginning March 31 at the ANA Inspiration.