Three weeks after Morgane Metraux hoisted a trophy on the Ladies European Tour, she played her way to her first top-10 finish of the season on the LPGA Tour at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer.
“I had a lot of momentum coming from my win on the LET, but I didn't have my A-game this week,” Metraux said after her round on Sunday. “Feels really good to get to that score without my best stuff.”
During her final round at Seaview’s Bay Course, Metraux saw that eventual champion Linnea Strom had posted a low number early in the day to vault from the cut line to the top of the leaderboard. Metraux knew she’d need a low round of her own to have a chance of keeping pace with Strom and that motivation propelled her up the leaderboard as she closed with a final round of 66 to jump from a tie for 14th to solo fifth for her best finish on Tour since the Kroger Queen City Championship in September 2023.
“I knew I needed to shoot a really low one if I wanted to come close to the top of the leaderboard,” Metraux said about her mindset on the final day. “I actually made a lot of putts in the first few holes, got it going. Then around the turn, I missed a shorter one on nine and on 12 I three-putted. So, didn't quite get it all the way. Then I regrouped and played for myself again and just free and finished well.”
Metraux made five birdies on her outward nine, including four consecutive to make the turn in 32, but she dropped back-to-back shots at the 12th and 13th holes before rallying over the closing stretch with two birdies on her final five holes.
“The fact that I was actually able to play really well in the wind without my best stuff is a big confidence booster. I'm going to get to my best stuff so I can do better,” Metraux said after her round on Sunday. “Feels good to be able to shoot this score with the game I had.”
Metraux’s strong finish in New Jersey marks her second-straight made cut on the LPGA Tour in 2024. She advanced to the weekend, also in New Jersey, at the Mizuho Americas Open in May and then the following week she returned to the LET where she won the Jabra Ladies Open for her second career victory. Metraux’s recent run of success comes after a challenging start to the year, having dealt with a wrist injury that resulted in six missed cuts to begin the season on the LPGA Tour.
“I struggled with that and now it finally feels like I'm getting on top of it,” Metraux said about getting her wrist healthy again. “I can actually play free now, which is the best feeling.”
What would also be a great feeling for Metraux would be the chance to represent Switzerland in the upcoming Olympic games in Paris. She’s currently the second-highest ranked player from Switzerland, behind fellow countrywoman Albane Valenzuela, and is currently eligible to compete. Metraux’s top five finish at the ShopRite LPGA Classic should help her make a leap further up the Rolex Rankings when they’re updated on Monday, and further solidify her position on the Swiss squad.
“There are always many goals in my head, Olympics being a big one for sure,” Metraux said about getting to Paris. “I want to wear the Swiss outfit and be there. Yeah, it would be amazing.”
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