The LPGA Thread

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Before the 2013 season started I posted my top 30 predictions for LPGA Player of the Year.
My pick as winner was none other than Inbee Park. Inbee is making me look very good now, winning her second tournament already this year.

Inbee won this season's first major championship quite easily, with a 4 stroke victory over So Yeon Ryu.
The issue was never in doubt. Starting the day with a 3 stroke lead over Lizette Salas, and a 6 stroke lead over six other golfers, Inbee put an end to this championship very early. Inbee birdied the first hole while Salas would record a double bogey, and the three stroke lead became six very quickly. From there on in everyone else would be playing for second place. The only question was how many strokes ahead of the field she would be when she jumped into Poppie's Pond.

For full story:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...-to-kraft.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Only twelve more tournaments remain for the U.S. players to get themselves into position to qualify for the 2013 Solheim Cup, which will be played this year at the Colorado Club, in Parker Colorado. Players started accumulating points at the completion of the last Solheim Cup, in 2011.

The United States has changed the qualifications for entry. In previous years it was the top ten players who accumulated the most points, and then two captain's picks. They have now changed that to the top eight players off the point list, the 2 highest Rolex ranked players not already in, and 2 captain's picks.

Points are accumulated the following way:
(From the first event after the previous Solheim Cup match in 2011 through the end of the 2012 season)
Winner - 40 points, 2nd - 20 points, 3rd - 18 points, 4th - 17 points, all the way down to 20th - 2 points.
(The 2013 season tournaments, leading up to the Solheim match)
Winner - 60 points, 2nd - 30 points, 3rd - 28.5 points, 4th - 27 points, 5th - 25.5 points, all the way down to a 20th place finish worth 3 points.
The reason for the increased points for the last part of the term is to give an advantage to the players who are hot going into the match.

With many players fighting to get into a position to make the team, let us look at where we stand as of today.

Here are the top 8 Solheim Cup point leaders right now:


http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...n-solheim.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

After a one week break, the LPGA resumes its schedule with the playing of the LPGA Lotte Championship Presented by J Golf. This will start a stretch of six tournaments over a seven week period, that will be capped off by the year's second major championship.

There will be a pretty solid field, with newly crowned Kraft Nabisco champion Inbee Park, and the world's number one player Stacy Lewis, leading the way.
Although there are a few key players sitting it out, my strength of field rating is still a very solid 80.5%.
Among the players sitting it out this week are: Amy Yang, Catriona Matthew, Lexi Thompson, Chie Arimura, Ayaka Uehara, and Jimin Kang.

This will be tournament number 7 of 28 to be played this year.

Here are the key details:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...-pairings.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Final Results:

1 x-Suzann Pettersen -19 F
1 Lizette Salas -19 F
3 Ariya Jutanugarn -15 F
4 In-Kyung Kim -13 F
4 Inbee Park -13 F
6 Na Yeon Choi -11 F
6 Jessica Korda -11 F
6 Ai Miyazato -11 F
9 Shanshan Feng -10 F
9 a-Lydia Ko -10 F
9 Caroline Hedwall -10 F
9 Stacy Lewis -10 F
9 Hyo Joo Kim -10 F
9 Hee Kyung <ACRONYM title="Search Engine Optimization">Seo</ACRONYM> -10 F<!-- google_ad_section_end --><!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Before we get to this week's topic, let me say if you missed last week's tournament, you missed one of the best finishes you will ever see. Congratulations goes out to Suzann Pettersen for winning the LPGA Lotte Championship in a playoff over Lizette Salas. Lizette may have been the bigger story as she shot a 29 on the back nine for a round of 62, only to come up short in the playoff.

The LPGA travels to Texas this week for the inaugural playing of the North Texas LPGA Shootout.
This will mark the first LPGA tournament in the state of Texas in more than 20 years. The tournament has attracted a very strong field. My strength of field rating is a very strong 84.5, making it the third strongest field of the year. Among the missing this week are: Karrie Webb, Chie Arimura, Jimin Kang, Jeong Jang, Ayaka Uehara, and Seon Hwa Lee.

One very interesting note, Madison Pressel has been given a sponsor exemption for this event. Madison 21, is the younger sister of LPGA star Morgan Pressel. She currently attends the University of Texas.

There will be two cuts in this tournament. The top 70 and ties will go on after Fridays round, and the top 50 and ties will advance after Saturday's round.

This will be tournament number 8 of 28 on this year's schedule.

Here are the key details:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...-pairings.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Here are the leaders after two rounds:
1 Caroline Masson -7 F
2 Carlota Ciganda -6 F
3 Moriya Jutanugarn -5 F
3 Kathleen Ekey -5 F
3 Inbee Park -5 F
6 Shanshan Feng -4 F
6 Yani Tseng -4 F
6 Jessica Korda -4 F
6 Hee Young Park -4 F
6 Brittany Lincicome -4 F
11 So Yeon Ryu -3 F
11 Angela Stanford -3 F
11 Na Yeon Choi -3 F
11 Hee Kyung Seo -3 F
http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...-pairings.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Here are the third round leaders:

1 Carlota Ciganda -11 F
2 Inbee Park -9 F
2 Caroline Masson -9 F
4 Na Yeon Choi -8 F
5 Karine Icher -6 F
5 Christina Kim -6 F
5 Jee Young Lee -6 F
5 So Yeon Ryu -6 F
9 In-Kyung Kim -5 F
9 Suzann Pettersen -5 F
9 Shanshan Feng -5 F
12 Brittany Lincicome -4 F
12 Yani Tseng -4 F
12 Moriya Jutanugarn -4 F

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...-pairings.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg bgColor=#ffffff vAlign=top width="100%">Here are the Final Results:

1- Inbee Park -13 F
2 Carlota Ciganda -12 F
3 Suzann Pettersen -10 F
4 Hee Young Park -9 F
4 So Yeon Ryu -9 F
6 In-Kyung Kim -8 F
7 Stacy Lewis -7 F
7 Shanshan Feng -7 F
7 Karine Icher -7 F
7 Na Yeon Choi -7 F
11 Paula Creamer -6 F
11 Dewi Claire Schreefel -6 F
11 Cristie Kerr -6 F
11 Christina Kim -6 F
15 Giulia Sergas -5 F
15 Mo Martin -5 F
15 Jee Young Lee -5 F
15 Caroline Masson -5 F

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...-pairings.html </TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#e5e5e5 width="100%" colSpan=2><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=1 width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Before I get to this week's tournament, let me say once again if you missed last week's event , you missed another thriller. Congratulations goes out to Inbee Park for winning the North Texas LPGA Shootout. Inbee came from behind and pulled out a one stroke victory over runner up Carlotta Ciganda. It sure seems every week is a nail biter. Every tournament seems to go down to the final shot on the final hole. Who could ask for more?

The LPGA moves to Virginia this week for the playing of the Kingsmill Championship. Who could ever forget last year's championship when Jiyai Shin defeated Paula Creamer in a 9 hole playoff?

This will be tournament #9 of 28 on this year's schedule.
Here are the key details:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...p-preview.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Here are the first round leaders:

1 Ariya Jutanugarn -7 F
2 Cristie Kerr -5 F
3 Dewi Claire Schreefel -4 F
3 So Yeon Ryu -4 F
5 Angela Stanford -3 F
5 Caroline Hedwall -3 F
5 Jane Park -3 F
5 Sandra Gal -3 F
5 Mo Martin -3 F
5 Ai Miyazato -3 F
5 Suzann Pettersen -3 F
5 Hee Young Park -3 F
5 Inbee Park -3 F
5 Katie Burnett -3 F
5 Stacy Lewis -3 F
5 Jee Young Lee -3 F
5 Karen Stupples -3 F
5 Azahara Munoz -3 F
19 Paula Creamer -2 F

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...p-preview.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Here are the leaders after round 2:

1 Ariya Jutanugarn -7 F
2 Angela Stanford -6 F
2 Stacy Lewis -6 F
4 Cristie Kerr -5 F
4 Sandra Gal -5 F
4 Suzann Pettersen -5 F
7 Katie Burnett -4 F
7 Juli Inkster -4 F
7 Ilhee Lee -4 F
7 So Yeon Ryu -4 F
7 Shanshan Feng -4 F
7 Ai Miyazato -4 F
13 Christel Boeljon -3 F
13 Jane Park -3 F
13 Irene Cho -3 F
13 Paula Creamer -3 F
13 Alison Walshe -3 F
13 Karen Stupples -3 F
19 Mo Martin -2 F
19 Inbee Park -2 F

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...p-preview.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Here are the third round leaders:
1 Cristie Kerr -10 F
2 Suzann Pettersen -8 F
2 Stacy Lewis -8 F
4 Angela Stanford -7 F
5 Ilhee Lee -6 F
6 Lizette Salas -5 F
6 Ariya Jutanugarn -5 F
8 Inbee Park -4 F
8 Katie Burnett -4 F
10 Mo Martin -3 F
10 Sandra Gal -3 F
12 Chella Choi -2 F
12 Jenny Shin -2 F
12 Karrie Webb -2 F
12 Caroline Hedwall -2 F
12 Irene Cho -2 F
12 Jane Park -2 F
12 So Yeon Ryu -2 F
12 Shanshan Feng -2 F

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...p-preview.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

have posted the final recap & results:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...p-preview.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

Now that we have completed about 1/3 of the LPGA season, I would like to look at the players that have made the biggest leaps, and taken the biggest falls in the Rolex Rankings this year.

The Rolex Rankings system awards points to players based on an accumulated 104-week "rolling" period, with the points awarded in the most recent 13-week period carrying a stronger value.
A player is then ranked according to her average points per tournament, as determined by dividing her total number of points by the number of eligible tournaments played during the 104-week period. A minimum divisor (35) is also used.

I have gone back to the first Rolex Rankings of the year and compared them to the current rankings. The only requirement for my list is that a player must have been ranked in the top 100 at the start of the year, or be in the top 100 now.

Here are the Year's Biggest winners and biggest losers:

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...ar-part-1.html

[tonyj5]

Re: The LPGA Thread

First let me take this time to say, once again, that if you missed viewing last week's tournament, you missed another nail biting finish. As I said last week, it certainly seems that every tournament goes down to the last shot on the last hole. This past week was no exception as Cristie Kerr defeated Suzann Pettersen on the second playoff hole. What could these very talented ladies have in store for us next? I for one can't wait to see.

The LPGA takes a one week break this week before moving to the state of Alabama for the playing of the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic. The LPGA has now completed about 1/3 of its schedule. It is a good time to look at some of the key statistics and notes covering the first 9 tournaments.

http://www.tonyslpgareport.com/2013/...volume-13.html