9th U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship - Inside the Field
May 8, 2024
PRIOR LAKE, Minn. – A bogey-free 5-under 67 Saturday at The Meadows at Mystic Lake put World Golf Hall of Fame inductee and defending champion Juli Inkster on top of the leaderboard at the 2022 LPGA Land O’Lakes Legends Classic.
Inkster erased a one-stroke deficit during the final round a year ago, firing a 67 to claim a one-stroke victory over Rosie Jones and Christa Johnson.
Inkster will carry a one-shot advantage over Becky Iverson when the tournament resumes Sunday.
“I hit the ball really well today—I only missed one green,” the 62-year-old Inkster said following her round Saturday. “Putting was a little shaky and I need to get that going, but I hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens.
“The course is playing a lot different. Last year it was playing really fast and this year you can fly the ball to the hole because it’s a lot wetter. The wind will probably dry it out a little bit."
Inkster rolled in three birdies during her front nine Saturday to turn in 3-under for the championship before adding her fourth birdie of the round at the par-4 13th.
Converting a short birdie putt on the ensuing hole, Inkster would cruise over her final four holes to take the 18-hole lead at 5-under 67.
Inkster earned her fifth win on the LPGA Legends Tour last season for her 45th win as a professional at last year’s inaugural championship.
Iverson played her first seven holes in even par Saturday before dipping into red figures with a birdie at the par-4 eighth to turn in 1-under.
Taking advantage of the par-5 10th, Iverson carded her third birdie of the round and followed it by converting her birdie opportunity at the 14th to move to 3-under for the round.
Wedging her approach inside of 10 feet at the last, Iverson rolled in one final birdie to card a 4-under 68 to sit alone in second, one shot off Inkster’s lead.
“I was super happy with the round today,” Iverson said Saturday. “I’m playing with new irons today and I was worried that I wouldn’t know how far they were going to go. I was guessing a little bit here and there, but I was putting myself in the right position.
“I hit a couple of bad shots, but I putted well and didn’t get myself in too much trouble. I started trusting my swing a little more on the [back nine] and when I started hitting the ball well off the tee, I started trusting the irons, hitting them closer and making more putts."
Iverson opened last year’s championship with an even par 72 before tallying a final-round 74 to finish tied for 19th.
Audra Burks, Nicole Jeray, Leta Lindley and former University of Minnesota women’s golf coach Michele Redman, also a co-owner of the event, will each begin Sunday’s final round tied for third, two shots off the lead after carding rounds of 3-under 69.
The final round of the 2022 LPGA Land O’Lakes Legends Classic is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Sunday at The Meadows at Mystic Lake.
THE 2ND LPGA LAND O’LAKES LEGENDS CLASSIC
THE MEADOWS AT MYSTIC LAKE
PRIOR LAKE, MINN.
5,874 YARDS, PAR 72
SATURDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Juli Inkster, 33-34—67
2. Becky Iverson, 35-33—68
T3. Audra Burks, 35-34—69
T3. Nicole Jeray, 34-35—69
T3. Leta Lindley, 35-34—69
T3. Michele Redman, 35-34—69
T7. Moira Dunn-Bohls, 36-34—70
T7. Kim Williams, 37-33—70
T7. Cathy Johnston-Forbes, 34-36—70
T7. Pat Hurst, 36-34—70
T7. Laura Diaz, 35-35—70
For complete tournament results go to: https://2022legendsclassicmn.golfgenius.com/pages/8505991125465570243
Contact Us
Have a question about the Minnesota Golf Association, your MGA membership or the contents of this website? Let us help.
