Mi Hyang Lee Wins Mizuno Classic 2014

The final day of the Mizuno Classic 2014 at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club, Shima-Shi, Mie, Japan has been a tremendous shoot out. No one would have predicted what was to unfold.

Overnight leaders of Ai Suzuki, Ilhee Lee and Dame Laura Davies all stayed strong and had their chances along the way. Hole by hole neither player giving an inch, the birdies came but so did the bogeys. Frustrating pars seemed to be the order of the day.

Morgan Pressel (USA) made her way into contention early with 3 birdies on the front 9. The par 3, 11th, got the upper hand and Presell walked away with a bogey. Not to be outdone, she utilised her skills wisely and took advantage of the par 5’s picking up 2 birdies. She followed up with another birdie at the 17th to get herself to -10. Pressel was unlucky not to finish with a birdie at 18 but walked off the green to be club-house leader at -10 and would be content with the grit that she showed to get up there.

Karrie Webb was -5 for the front 9 and looked to be on a charge. At 12, she dropped a shot only to fight back at 13 to be equal leader at -11. Despairingly, Webb bogeyed 14 and it wasn’t until the par 3,17th, which she had birdied all week, that she got back to the share of the lead. As I was about to call her name in a ‘playoff’, agony struck at 18 as Webb posted a bogey and finished her event at -10. Webb finished better than the previous winners that were in the field this week and would have to settle for a tie for 4th.

Ayako Uehara (JPN) also dropped a shot at 18 which took her out of play-off range. Players at -10 could only watch on as clubhouse leaders and let it all unfold.

Mi Hyang Lee (Kor) who had picked up 3 birdies on the front 9 dropped a shot at the 10th to place her back in the pack. She rallied at 14 with a sweet birdie and a share of the lead.

Fan favourite Dame Laura Davies didn’t start her day the way she had envisaged by dropping a shot on the par 4, 2nd hole. Davies directly turned that around and made a birdie on the 3rd. This was repeated at 6 and 7, bogey then birdie. She remained at -9 until after the turn on 13, Davies drilled a putt for birdie. She now sat in a group who were 1 shot off the pace.

Ilhee Lee had gone along quietly for the day and had picked up 2 strokes by the 11th, took a very handy birdie at 16 to become sole leader at -12.

Davies had birdied 17 and bogeyed 18 on previous rounds. She would need all the energy she could muster to chase the posted -12 score down.

Ilhee Lee sitting at -12 and knew that she hadn’t birdied the last two holes the previous days. The pressure for her to hold the one stroke lead would have been immense. She then dropped a shot at the par 3,17th to bring her back to the field. 3 players Ilhee Lee, Mi Hyang Lee, and Kotono Kozuma now all atop of the leaderboard at -11. the last group with 2 to play.

Davies did what she could coming home. It was mesmerising watching her swing and see her back at her best but couldn’t capitalise and get the ball to drop for birdie. She walked away from 18 with another par and sat at -10. Davies didn’t win here today but we haven’t seen the last of her in the winners circle.