2013 Wegmans LPGA Championship: Who’s Chasing Shanshan Feng?
When Shanshan Feng (China) steps up to the first tee to at Wegmans LPGA Championshipon Thursday she has her work cut out for her. The defending tournament champ faces an international field of 152 players, all intent on grabbing the lion’s share of a $2.5 million purse, an impressive trophy, and bragging rights to the title of the 2nd longest running LPGA tournament event. I predict a hard-fought tournament with no clear leaders going in.
Jun. 8, 2012; Pittsford, NY, USA; Cristie Kerr during the second round of the Wegmans LPGA championship at the Locust Hill Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
At #7 in the Rolex Rankings, Feng is a steady player who’s compiled an impressive record of wins and top-ten finishes over her pro career. She’s well prepared to defend her title, despite a flawed final round last Sunday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer. Who is chasing Feng? And who has the best shot at passing her in the climb to the top of the leaderboard?
Stacy Lewis (USA) is #2 in the Rolex Rankings and needs a win, but her game lagged at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic and the ShopRite LPGA Classic. She’s working with her coach to get her game retuned and under control before Thursday’s opening round. But can she dig deep and get her game back in one or two practice rounds? Not if she continues to blame the wind and bumpy greens for a lackluster game. Everybody plays in the same conditions. That’s the way golf works.
Karrie Webb (Australia) is hot off her surge late in the 3rd round of the ShopRite and will no doubt give Feng some competition. Webb is at #8 in the Rolex Rankings and in addition to her victory at the ShopRite she has 4 top-ten finishes this year. She has a strong, accurate drive and she has a long career history of collecting birdies to finish her rounds under par. Watch this Aussie. She wants a 2nd win and she has the game in her bag to do just that.
Ilhee Lee (South Korea) claimed her first professional victory at the Pure Silk-Bahamas two weeks ago and there’s no doubt she’d like to take the Wegmans trophy too. Despite her spectacular 3rd round at the ShopRite, that tournament is not a good predictor of performance at the Wegmans, which will require sustained, high-quality golf for 72 holes. Lee is ranked #36 by Rolex, has a less accurate and somewhat shorter drive than Webb, and hasn’t demonstrated the consistent ability to snag birdies that will take her to the top of the leaderboard.
Inbee Park (South Korea) is at the top of the Rolex Rankings and bears watching as the Wegmans opens. In 2012 Park entered 24 competitive events and made the cut 23 times. She claimed 2 victories and 10 additional top-ten finishes, 6 as runner-up. She already has 3 wins for this season: the Honda LPGA Thailand in February, the Kraft Nabisco Championship and North Texas LPGA Shootout in April. Her driving average isn’t exceptional but she’s a very accurate shooter, and that’s going to be critical at the Wegmans. The rough is thick and high. All Park needs to do is stay in the short grass and collect birdies and a few eagles if she has the opportunity. She’s proven she can do just that.
The wild card at the Wegmans is Lydia Ko (amateur, New Zealand), 16-year old winner of the 2012 Canadian Open. The teen phenom beat out Inbee Park to win the 2012 Canadian Women’s Open by 3 strokes last August and has competed in 14 professional events in the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe. She has never missed a cut. Can she do it again at the Wegmans?
The Wegmans opens at 7:15am Thursday when Sara-Maude Juneau, Amelia Lewis, and Stephanie Ferguson step up to the tee box. Stacy Lewis, playing with Lexi Thompson and Carlota Ciganda, tees off at 7:59. Inbee Park tees off at 8:15, playing with Paula Creamer and Jessica Corda. Lydia Ko, playing with Michelle Wie and Ariya Jutanugarn, tees off at 12:37pm. Karrie Webb will take the tee at 12:59pm, playing with Moriya Jutanugarn and Suzann Pettersen. Simultaneously, Ilhee Lee tees off playing with So Yeon Ryu and Gerina Piller. Following them all, Shanshan Feng, playing with Cristie Kerr and Yani Tseng, tees off at 1:10pm.
Who will dominate the Wegmans? Leading up to the US Women’s Open and the Solheim Cup, the LPGA Tour has been fluid and dynamic. Only the ALPG picked Webb to win the ShopRite and Ilhee Lee surprised us all when she eclipsed Stacy Lewis at the Pure Silk-Bahamas. But Inbee Park is due a win and Lydia Ko has shown she can beat Park. Place your bets.