Click here for the complete field for the 2016 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.
Back to Defend
It’s a busy stretch of the season for Lydia Ko who is once again defending her title for the second time in as many weeks. The world No.1 successfully hoisted the trophy for the second consecutive year at last week’s ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open. Now, Ko will defend her title once again this week at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, where she narrowly edged out Amy Yang for the two-stroke victory. Yang is not in the field this week.
More Magic For Ha Na Jang?
No.9 in the Rolex Rankings, Ha Na Jang is the most recent winner on the LPGA Tour, having won her first title at the Coates Golf Championship earlier this month. Jang has made headlines from season’s start, making a historic albatross on a par 4 at the season opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic and then winning in frigid and rainy conditions in Ocala. Jang finished in a tie for seventh at this event last year. She’s the second highest ranked player in the field this week behind No.1 Lydia Ko. Rounding out the top-20 are world No.11 Brooke Henderson, coming off a runner-up finishing in Ocala, as well as No.17 Minjee Lee.
Sixth Times A Charm?
Karrie Webb has captured her country’s national championship a record five times, winning the event in 2000, 2002, 2007, 2008 and 2014. Webb makes her first start of the 2016 season this week at home in Australia where she’ll look to add another title to her 41 career LPGA victories. Fellow countrywoman Minjee Lee is also in the field as the top ranked women’s Australian golfer. She finished T-21 at the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic and T-40 at the Coates Golf Championship.
Laura Looks For Number Three
Dame Laura Davies tees it up at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australia Open in what is her first start of the 2016 LPGA season. Davies is a two-time winner of this event, having captured the title in both 2004 and 2009. Davies and Webb are the only multiple winners of this event in the field this week. Yani Tseng who won back-to-back in 2010 and 2011 is not in the field.
Here Come The Amateurs
The future of the women's game is well represented at this week’s ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open. Six amateurs are in the field, including Australia Amateur Champion Min-Ji Park, who at just 18-years of age won 6&5 for the title. Also in the field is Australia Junior Champion Celina Yuan. The winner of the Aaron Baddeley International Junior Championship, Minori Iwasaki will also play in this week’s championship. Two amateurs earned their way into the field this week through qualifying, including Eun Jeong Seong who shot 69 and Hye-Jin Choi who shot 70. Australia’s top ranked amateur Hannah Green received a sponsor’s invite and made a splash last season finishing second to Lydia Ko at the ISPS Handa New Zealand Women’s Open.
Click here for the complete field for the 2016 ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.
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