KO FINISHES OFF HOST WEEK

Lydia Ko was the main attraction this week in New Zealand and the fans came out in droves to watch the 20-year-old from Auckland go at a fourth New Zealand Women’s Open title. Although she didn’t finish the way she would have liked, Ko (-5) was kind enough to meet with media one last time after her round and talked about her appreciation for all of the support.

“The highlight of this week was definitely the fans,” said Ko, who is the key reason for the LPGA’s venture to New Zealand for the first time. “It is Monday morning, it is this cold and this windy and there are still people out there supporting us. So I think the fans were probably the biggest highlight for me and I think for many of the players. The Clubhouse have done an amazing job to make a goal or a dream come reality and done an amazing job.”

MORE THAN A RESULT

Jing Yan’s runner-up performance was made extra memorable because of the circumstances she faced this week.

“I had different expectations,” the 21-year-old Yan said. “This week is a lot different because my grandmother passed away and it is hard on my dad who is on my bag. We were meant to go back on Friday but didn’t because the family said it is okay to stay and play. It was different to have that feeling – I am very sombre and not too emotional.”

HENDERSON MOVES UP IN THE FINAL STRETCH IN THE RACE TO THE CME GLOBE

This week’s MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open is the 27th event in the season-long Race to the CME Globe. Thanks to her win, World No. 12 Brooke Henderson earns 500 more points and climbs up to fourth in the standings with 2,546 points. Lexi Thompson leads in the Race with 3,192 points, with World No. 1 So Yeon Ryu (2,652 points) and World No. 3 Sung Hyun Park (2,563 points) close behind.

In 2017, the reset points for the Race to the CME Globe will be modified slightly. As a result of these modifications:

The top five finishers entering Naples will control their own destiny at the CME Group Tour Championship
If a player in the top five wins in Naples, she will also win the $1M CME Globe
The top 12 finishers entering Naples will have a mathematical chance to win the $1M CME Globe
Please note that previously, the top three controlled their destiny and top nine had a mathematical chance

CME GROUP CARES WEEKENDS EAGLES UPDATE

CME Group Cares Weekend is a season-long charitable giving program that turns eagles into donations. For each eagle recorded during weekend play (Saturday and Sunday) throughout the 2017 LPGA Tour season, CME Group donates $1,000 to the program’s total donation count. The money raised will go towards a charitable pool and be split evenly between Wounded Warrior Project® and Bright Pink®.

Players scored seven eagles over the weekend at the 2017 MCKAYSON New Zealand Women’s Open, raising another $7,000 for charity. This brings the total to 251 eagles on the year, which translates to $251,000 raised.

Ko Finishes Host Week and More From New Zealand

Related Articles