All Chella Choi has done over the past two weeks is set a U.S. Women’s Open record, capture her first LPGA title and retire her father from the caddie ranks.
Choi, 24, had an indication things were getting pretty good during the third round of the U.S. Women’s Open. She shot the first nine-hole score of 29 in Women’s Open history and was en route to tying the major championship record of 63 before settling for 64 after missing a 3-foot par putt on the final hole. She finished T20.
Last week in Sylvania, Ohio, at the Marathon Classic, Choi continued her momentum after a brief bump in the road. After opening with a 73, she made 19 birdies in the final three rounds to shoot 66-65-66 and then beat Ha Na Jang in a playoff.
Choi’s father, Ji Yeon, has been her caddie for eight years, including one on the Epson Tour and seven on the LPGA. The elder Choi was a national policeman in South Korea for 21 years before retiring at age 48. Ever since first picking up his daughter’s golf bag in 2007, Ji Yeon had been begging to quit but promised to stay on until she won a tournament. After her win on Sunday, Chella suggested that her dad might stay on a while, at least through the Evian Championship in September.
Choi lives in Jacksonville, Fla., and plays out of Deercreek Country Club.
South Koreans continue winning ways
With Chella Choi’s victory at the Marathon Classic, South Korean-born players continued their dominance of the LPGA this season. Her victory marked the 13th in 18 tournaments so far this year. The eight winners, in order, include Na Yeon Choi (two wins), Sei Young Kim (two wins), Lydia Ko (two wins), Amy Yang, Inbee Park (three wins), Hyo Joo Kim, In Gee Chun and Chella Choi.
South Korean players have won six of the past eight U.S. Women’s Opens and 10 of the last 17 majors dating back to 2012.
Lee’s Meijer win at Blythefield
Mirim Lee captured her first career LPGA title last year at the Meijer Classic, defeating fellow South Korean Inbee Park on the second hole of a playoff. The long-hitting Lee, age 24, drove into a greenside bunker on the short par-4 17th hole and got up down to defeat Park. She won the Reignwood Pine Valley LPGA Classic later in the year.
Some other facts about this week’s course:
- Blythefield Country Club was designed by Theodore Moreau and William Langford in 1929. The Chicago duo designed most of their courses around the Midwest in the 1920s and 1930s. Walter Hagen and Horton Smith were among the golf celebrities who attended the opening on June 14, 1929.
- The course has hosted each level of the Western Golf Association’s men’s tournaments. Dale Morey from North Carolina won the 1952 Western Amateur. Arnold Palmer captured his 26th career PGA Tour title when he opened with a 65 and edged Sam Snead by two strokes to capture the 1961 Western Open. Rickie Fowler, then age 16, won the 2005 Western Junior by one stroke thanks to final-round 64. Both Palmer and Fowler finished at 13-under-par 271 on the par-71 course.
- Blythefield Country Club will play to par 71 this week, the same as it totaled for the three Western events. However, the nines have been switched, except for the real No. 18 continuing to be the No. 18 for the tournament, and No. 9 the No. 9 in the tournament. The 10th through 17th holes will be the first eight holes this week, and the back nine of the tournament will start at the actual No. 1. One of the most memorable holes will be the fourth hole this week (normally the 13th), a par 3 that plays across the rapids on the Rogue River.
Solheim Cup standings
The 2015 Solheim Cup will take place Sept. 18-20 at St. Leon-Rot Golf Club near Heidelberg, Germany. Players began earning points at the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open and can earn points through the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open on Aug. 23, giving them four tournaments to make a move.
The American team will be composed of the top eight points earners, the top two on the Rolex Women’s World Rankings not in the top eight in points and two picks by U.S. Captain Juli Inkster.
The European team will be made up of the top four in points, the top four in Rolex Women’s World Rankings and four picks by European Captain Liselotte Neumann.
Here are the current standings:
| Europe | |
| Gwladys Nocera, France | Points |
| Suzann Pettersen, Norway | Points |
| Charley Hull, England | Points |
| Carlota Ciganda, Spain | Points |
| Anna Nordqvist, Sweden | Rankings |
| Azahara Munoz, Spain | Rankings |
| Sandra Gal, Germany | Rankings |
| Catriona Matthew, Scotland | Rankings |
| Positions 9-12 TBA | |
| United States | |
| Stacy Lewis | Points |
| Lexi Thompson | Points |
| Michelle Wie | Points |
| Cristie Kerr | Points |
| Brittany Lincicome | Points |
| Morgan Pressel | Points |
| Angela Stanford | Points |
| Gerina Piller | Points |
| Paula Creamer | Rankings |
| Jessica Korda | Rankings |
| Positions 11-12 TBA |
Etc.
One year from now, Olympic golfers will be determined based on the Rolex Women’s World Rankings of July 11, 2016. The women’s competition is scheduled for Aug. 17-20, one week after the men play on the new Rio de Janeiro, Brazil course. The field will be limited to 60 players. … The Marathon Classic was the fifth playoff this year on the LPGA. The winners have included Sei Young Kim (twice), Brittany Lincicome, Lydia Ko and Chella Choi. … World No. 1 Inbee Park is participating in this week’s Meijer Classic while No. 2 Lydia Ko and No. 3 Stacey Lewis are taking an off week. … Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe is in this week’s field after a stellar week in Toronto. She won the individual women’s gold medal in the Pan American Games competition and then combined with the men’s side to win the mixed-team gold. Uribe has a third and T9 in two of her last four LPGA starts.
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