Minjee Lee secures four stroke victory, Aditi Ashok T30 in LA Open

29 April 2019: In one of her most consistent weeks on the LPGA in recent weeks, Aditi Ashok stayed par or better in all four rounds to secure a hard-earned tie for 30th place. It was a creditable result for the Indian golfer after recent struggles saw her overcome a stream of missed cuts and disappointing results. The LA Open should help bolster her confidence as the ladies tour marches into the decisive summer phase. The result also meant that Aditi moved up to 108th on the Race to CME Globe.

Minjee Lee remained unflappable through an intense final round as she coasted to a four-stroke victory, her fifth on the LPGA, with a solid 68. The Aussie maintained her focus through a tricky phase when she was witnessing Nanna Koerstz Madsen slip away from contention on Sunday. Starting the day in second, the Dane finished in T13 after posting a 76.

A bogey at the par-4 eleventh was the only blemish on an otherwise brilliant final round card for Lee, who made four birdies. Sei Young Kim secured the second spot with a 66 fueled by six birdies. Annie Park (67) and Morgan Pressel (68) finished in a tie for third, five shots adrift from the leader at 9-under.

Aditi shot rounds of 70-71-71-71 this week as she played with great discipline and tremendous commitment. At three under through twelve holes, Aditi looked set for a top twenty finish. But bogeys at the par-5 13th hole and another on the 17th left her back at one under, where she began her final round.

With six birdies in eight holes, Amy Yang produced the best round of the day. She shot 64 and joined Gaby Lopez, Megan Khang, Jin Young Ko and Inbee Park at T5 at 8-under.

Brooke Henderson (68), Stacy Lewis (69) and Danielle Kang (70) rounded off the top ten at 6-under 278.

LPGA Notes

VICTORIES

LPGA: Fifth career victory

PREVIOUS LPGA WINS: 2018 LPGA Volvik Championship; 2016 Blue Bay LPGA; 2016 LOTTE Championship presented by Hershey; 2015 Kingsmill Championship

RACE TO THE CME GLOBE

With her win, Lee earns 500 points and is projected to move from fourth to second in the Race to the CME Globe with 1,492 points

MONEY

With her win, Lee earns $225,000; she has earned $703,472 this season and $5,317,468 for her career

PREVIOUS HUGEL-AIR PREMIA LA OPEN

2018 – T7

2019 IN A NUTSHELL ON THE LPGA

Nine events played, nine cuts made, $703,472, one victory, three additional top-10 finishes

OF NOTE

• With the win, Lee is projected to move from fourth to second in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings, the highest ranking of her career
• Lee earned her fifth LPGA Tour victory; only Karrie Webb (41), Jan Stephenson (16) and Rachel Hetherington (eight) have more wins among Australian players
• With the $225,000 winner’s check, Lee moves to $5,317,468 in career earnings, projecting her to move past Katherine Kirk and become the third-winningest player from Australia, behind Karrie Webb ($20,254,718) and Rachel Hetherington ($5,730,915)
• Lee is the ninth different winner of the LPGA Tour season and the first winner from Australia