Malaysia's two professionals on the LPGA and Epson Tours in the United States enjoyed reasonably good outings last week.
Kelly Tan was tied for 40ᵗʰ place at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, while Alyaa Abdulghany registered her best showing yet on the Epson Tour when she finished joint 20ᵗʰ at the Island Resort Championship.
In the women’s third Major of the season, hosted at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, Kelly experienced a roller-coaster tournament in which she started with a four-over 76, came back nicely with two two-under-par 70s, before a final wayward round of 77.
At the beginning of the fourth day, Kelly looked well-positioned for a top-20 finish. But in the end, she settled for a five-over 293 total.
Still, her week’s work earned her US$42,957 (RM190,000) and moved her up to 66ᵗʰ from 70ᵗʰ in the season-long Race to CME Globe standings. At the end of the year, the top-60 qualify for the US$7mil (RM30.mil) CME Group Tour Championship in Florida.
South Korea’s In Gee Chun won the Women's PGA Championship with a five-under 283.
That gave her a one-stroke winning margin over in-form Minjee Lee and Lexi Thompson, who yet again stumbled to defeat after leading a Major over the back nine on Sunday.
The win was worth US$1.35mil (RM5.95mil) to Chun, who clinched her third Major with a pressure par-putt on the 72ⁿᵈ hole.
For 23-year-old Alyaa, her trip to Sweetgrass Golf Club in Harris, Michigan on the Epson Tour, the LPGA feeder circuit, was also a worthwhile visit.
In the three-day Island Resort Championship, Alyaa’s T20 earned her US$2,443 (RM10,765) as she carded rounds of 71, 67 and 73 for a five-under 211 total. It moved her up to 89ᵗʰ on the Epson Tour Money List.
She might be a long way from the leaders, but this must be considered progress, given it is her first full season on the Tour.
Taiwan’s Ssu-Chia Cheng, who finished with a 17-under 199, won the Island Resort Championship by six strokes from South Korean Jiwon Jeon. The winner took home US$31,875 (RM140,450).
