Masson wins 2016 Manulife LPGA Classic
Posted Sep 4, 2016 09:36:01 PM.
Last Updated Sep 5, 2016 10:16:58 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Germany’s Caroline Masson has won the fifth annual Manulife LPGA Classic at Whistle Bear Golf Club.
Masson won by one stroke, finishing the tournament 16-under (272). It’s her first victory on the LPGA and she takes home a cheque worth $240,000.
The round could have had a much different ending after Masson opened with a double bogey on the first hole. The 27-year-old then birdied 2, 3 and 4, ending the day with nine birdies.
“It’s hard to believe. I mean it really is. Obviously I was in a good position coming into today, and I was thinking, well, if I can shoot a really good round, I might have a chance, but I was totally not expecting it,” explained Masson. “I got off to a really bad start. I doubled the first hole and from then on just kind of, well, there’s no pressure. You don’t have to feel any pressure to win or do anything. Just keep making birdies, and that’s what I did all day. I tried to stay relaxed out there, enjoy it. It’s such a beautiful day and such a beautiful golf course.”
Third round leader Mi Hyang Lee needed a birdie on 18 to force a playoff, but ended up with par. Players then showered Masson in beer near the putting green. Lee finished tied for second with Minjee Lee and Karine Icher, all were 15-under.
2015 champ Suzann Pettersen, world number one Lydia Ko and number two ranked player Ariya Jutanugarn tied for fifth at 14-under.
Hamilton’s Alena Sharp finished as the low Canadian again. It is the fourth time that has happened at this tournament.
Sharp was 9-under. She had bogeys on 16 and 17, but put four birdies on her card in the final round.
“Definitely in my pro career, this is the most confident I’ve felt about my game and just how I’m looking at golf in general.”
Sharp came into the Manulife LPGA Classic off her best ever finish, fourth at the CP Canadian Women’s Open.
Canada’s Maude-Aimee Leblanc ended up 7-under along with Brooke Henderson. Anne Catherine Tanguay was a shot back of Leblanc and Henderson.
Once again, a large group of fans lined the ropes beside the 18th green for an autograph or picture with Henderson.
Over $477,000 was raised for the St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation, a new record, pushing the five year total to over $1.6-million.
68,000 people also took in all four rounds at Whistle Bear. Round 1 of the 2017 tournament is set for Thursday, June 8th.
