Caroline Hedwall & Stacy Lewis Headed for Sunday Shootout in China

By Elizabeth Bethel | Oct 4, 2014

Caroline Hedwall of team Europe tees off from the tenth hole during the second round of the 2013 Solheim Cup at the Colorado Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Stacy Lewis went to China fully aware that she needed to make some public amends for her petulant bad girl behavior at the 2013 Reignwood LPGA Classic and she’s done a fine job of redeeming herself. She’s delivered a world-class professional performance for three rounds. Caroline Hedwall, one of Team Europe’s standouts at the 2013 Solheim Cup who’s put five Ladies European Tour and three Australian Ladies Professional Golf victories on her resume but is still looking for her first win on the LPGA Tour, has also been playing a consistently strong game at the Reignwood. Going into Sunday’s final round tied for the lead at 13-under par, Lewis and Hedwall are ready to battle it out for the victory they both want very badly.

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The Co-Leaders

With rounds of 66, 68 & 72, Stacy Lewis has been on the top of the board for three rounds, holding off charges by Hedwall and a contingent of South Koreans who looked destined to dominate the Reignwood during the first round, then Brittany Lang, who carded the 2nd round low of 66, and Caroline Masson, who carded a 68 to keep herself near the top of the board.

But Lewis held on to the lead she established during the first round of play. Hedwall, who made a strong start with a 68, ended the 2nd round trailing Lewis by 4 shots and sharing the 3rd slot on the board with Masson, Mirim Lee and Belen Mozo.

Hedwall carded a 4-under 68 in the third round to pull even with Lewis, who had slowed down a bit and finished with an even par 72. Heading into Sunday’s final round, the questions may come down to who has the most steam left to close the deal.

Hedwall knows Lewis can be relentless on Sunday:

"I’m going to have to shoot a low one tomorrow if I want to win this tournament. – Caroline Hedwall"

I saw Hedwall turn on the power at the 2013 Solheim Cup. There’s no doubt in my mind that she has the game in her bag that can defeat the world’s top-ranked golfer. But Lewis has considerably more experience closing the deal on Sunday afternoon, and she’s going into the final round in a stronger position than she’s enjoyed recently.

Sunday could look like a replay of the Solheim match Lewis and Lizette Salas lost to Hedwall and Anna Nordqvist at the Colorado Golf Club last year, adding a bonus to the redemption Lewis was seeking when she teed off at the Reignwood Pine Valley Golf Club on Thursday.

Not A Two-Horse Race

Eight players are starting the final round at the Reignwood within 4 shots of the lead, and with the course giving up scores in the mid-60s, the Reignwood is an open tournament going into Sunday.

Lewis and Hedwall, at 13-under par, have only a slim two-shot lead over Brittany Lang and Mirim Lee, who are starting Sunday at 11-under par; and Inbee Park and Caroline Masson, who will tee off at 10-under and trailing the co-leaders by a mere 3 shots, are by no means out of the contest.

An unfortunate OB or water shot by Lewis or Hedwall and a string of birdies by any one of the players on the front page of the leaderboard could completely alter the nature of the Sunday battle.

Final Round Media Coverage

Golf Channel will begin coverage of the final round at the Reignwood LPGA Classic at 11pm ET Saturday, October 4 and will replay the initial live coverage Sunday afternoon, 12:30-3pm ET.