ladies golf tour yonex

Exciting New Sponsors for 2024

Welcome to the ladies golf tour – 2024 series.

Welcome to the Ladies Golf Tour 2024. In association with our sponsors, we are delighted to announce our series of ladies’ golf pairs events in the United Kingdom.

Our events are designed to provide you with a pairs tournament experience which is well organised, great fun, includes an element of competition as we have some fabulous prizes and most of all the opportunity to spend time with like-minded women golfers.

Founder of the Ladies Golf Tour, Caia Slater is an avid golfer who enjoys the many benefits of the game. Caia’s whole family play golf together, including her 14 year old son and 11 year old daughter whose golfing adventures are just beginning!

As an active member and ambassador for her home club of Chippenham Golf Club in Wiltshire, Caia is proud to be part of a very active and competitive ladies section, regularly competing in club and scratch league competitions.

Caia wants to champion women’s golf through The Ladies Golf Tour, delivering an all- round experience tailored for her audience, at prestigious venues, with her events helping to raise the profile of women’s golf.

Women Golfers: Benefits

Women golfers enjoy many benefits, from improved health and fitness to meeting like- minded ladies to play social rounds or competitive tournaments, and for those in business, a round of golf is an ideal networking opportunity to build relationships and share the mutual enjoyment of the game. We invite ladies to join the Ladies Golf Tour to take full advantage of these benefits!

The 2024 series, offers you the opportunity to join us and play fabulous courses in some idyllic locations, with the added bonus that many of the venues also offer additional facilities such as world-class spa and fitness studios!

We are extremely grateful to our generous sponsors for the prizes we have for our ladies, which include Swing Out Sister, Babouche! Golf, SabbotHeadwear, Golf Escapes, Marriott Bonvoy, Lazy Grazy, FORE! the Planet and more.

Ladies Golf Tour Limited is a registered UK company. Our address is Church Cottage, Church Road, Christian Malford, Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 4BW Company Reg. 14458765 VAT No. 3480929032

Terms & Conditions | Privacy

Welcome to the beta version of the new Women & Golf website. Our web monkeys are still hard at work and welcome your feedback.  

• Join Members' Club
• Course management
• UK & Ireland
• Drivers & woods
• Irons & hybrids
• Putters & wedges
• Accessories
• Free Newsletter
• Competitions
• Advertise & Contact Us
• About Women & Golf
• Members' Club competitions
• Members' Club discounts
• Members' Club instruction
• Members' Club Pilates
• Account number

Advertisement

Home | News | Industry | Introducing The Ladies Golf Tour – Yonex Series

Introducing The Ladies Golf Tour – Yonex Series

Editor Emma Ballard spoke to The Ladies Golf Tour founders Caia Slater and Jenny Swift last week to hear about their new joint business venture which is set to elevate women’s golf events in the UK.

Last September, a chance meeting at a corporate golf day turned into a business opportunity for Caia Slater and Jenny Swift. Whilst getting to know each other during their round it became clear they had both had similar experiences at golf events – often less than satisfactory.

Inspired by Caia’s obvious enthusiasm for creating more of a presence for women’s golf and Jenny’s own experience in running many golf days, Jenny explained there may be an opportunity to run women’s specific golf events and they should have a follow-up chat a couple of weeks later.

Jenny had attended a Yonex Ladies Pairs event earlier that year and had been really disappointed in the whole experience. Although these pairs events had been run since 2016, the company running them had changed over the last couple of years and they were not able to connect with women like founder Alex Nicholson of Yonex had been able to.

Jenny explains:

“The team who had been most recently running the Tour felt they weren't meeting the expectations of women golfers as well as they might.  Upon reflection, they could see these events would benefit from having someone who better understood what women expected from golf events and could make it happen. Asked if I would be interested to take on the challenge, I gave this fantastic opportunity a great deal of thought.

“However, having recently met Caia, who was enthusiastic and passionate about breaking into the golf industry, with much of her career still ahead of her, I felt it would be an ideal solution for Caia to take the lead.  The better role for me would be to draw upon my experience and support the “new look” Tour with practical help and guidance. Working together our focus is on re-energising and invigorating the event experience in the way Yonex envisioned and in the way Caia and I feel will best meet the requirements of women golfers today and into the future”

The Ladies Golf Tour - Yonex Series

The Ladies Golf Tour – Yonex Series was formally launched just before Christmas.  The whole process from creating a website to putting together a 2023 calendar of events happened really quickly.

Although the process had been quick, Caia and Jenny were very careful about which venues they chose because they wanted to create something that was really special.

Each event features two high quality golf courses with accommodation on site or close by so that once players are there they can relax and use the hotel amenities if they wish. For Caia and Jenny, it was important to have time for socialising as well as golf.

For the competition side, they want their events to have an almost tournament feel, in terms of the format and prizegiving. With fantastic sponsorship from Yonex, they are able offer high value and quality first, second and third prizes.

They also carefully considered the format with an emphasis on enjoyment and decided to go with four-ball better ball in pairs. Also, the second day, wherever possible will feature a dual-tee or shotgun start, so the field comes in together to enjoy food and prize giving as a culmination of the event.

Coming together at the end of the two days is very important to Caia:

“It is important to have a proper conclusion of what's hopefully been a very enjoyable event. In my experience, rounding off the event and celebrating the winners and stand out moments, is the perfect way to conclude day two.”

The Ladies Golf Tour – Yonex Series events

The Ox and Bucks Belter (Badgemore Park GC & Harleyford GC) – April 19-20, 2023

The Belton Blast (Belton Woods Hotel, Spa & Golf Club) – May 15-16, 2023

The Cheshire Chase (Carden Park Golf Resort) – June 12-13, 2023

The Belfry Better Ball (The Belfry Hotel & Resort) – July 19-20, 2023

The Festival in the Forest (The Forest of Arden Golf & Country Club) – July 31-August 1, 2023

The Mellion Masters (St Mellion Estate) – August 22-23, 2023

Find out more .

Not content with hosting these fantastic two days events, the pair were also keen to make sure that the season of events had an ending. Jenny explains:

“We needed a grand finale to bring it together. The first three pairs in each event will be invited to the grand final at Frilford Heath. It'll be a one day event with lots of pzazz. Bringing the season to a close.

“Our hope is that if it works this year and goes well, we can extend the Tour to make it bigger and do more events. I think it's very exciting.”

With further sponsorship support from TaylorMade Golf and Surprizeshop, and collaboration with other women passionate about creating opportunities for women to play more golf, like Yvonne Brooke founder of the Ladies Golf Lounge, the Ladies Golf Tour is going from strength to strength as they head towards their first event in April.

Original founder Alex Nicholson from Yonex UK Limited is sure that this new series of events will deliver a high quality experience for all competitors:

“When the Ladies Golf Tour team, Caia and Jenny, took over responsibility for the Yonex Series events from November 2022, it was clear from the start they would be ideal new brand ambassadors for Yonex.

“For me personally, their three stand out qualities are they have extensive golf event experience and bring a welcome, fresh approach to events, their “first class experience” mantra really resonated with me. Secondly, they are both avid and experienced golfers who have played golf courses across the UK and overseas, so are able to handpick the venues they know you will love, and thirdly, their commitment and passion for growing the women’s game, by combining the right level of competition and fun for all event participants”

After meeting Caia and Jenny is it absolutely impossible not to admire their drive, hard work and determination to make these events a success.

About Caia and Jenny

Co-founders of The Ladies Golf Tour,  Caia Slater and  Jenny Swift are keen golfers who are committed to growing the enjoyment, fun and competitive elements of the women’s game.  Naturally organised with a focus on supporting people throughout her career in HR, Caia is delighted to have the opportunity to work with and learn from Jenny, who brings her impressive business acumen but also her experience of creating, hosting and managing golf events across the UK and overseas.  Jenny is an active member of Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire and Caia is a member at Bowood in Wiltshire.  

Find out more about The Ladies Golf Tour here . Also, if you would like to be in with a chance to win a place (for a pair) at the first event of the season “The Ox & Bucks Belter”, you can enter via the Ladies Golf Lounge Facebook page here . A winner will be drawn on February 25, 2023.

More Industry

Green swing launches limited-edition bamboo tees for world ocean day.

By Women & Golf Staff

Heritage Resorts & Golf: A Commitment to Sustainability

By Emma Ballard

2024 AIG Women's Open headline act announced

This girl is on fire: hull, smoking and other thoughts.

By Charlotte Ibbetson

Women's Golf Day events celebrate record attendances

2024 volvo car scandinavian mixed, tommy fleetwood first player ambassador for unleash your drive in schools initiative, stephen curry’s first underrated golf european tour concludes at walton heath.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter...

Join our club....

• Instruction
• Members' Club
• Join the Women & Golf Members' Club
• Advertise with Us
• Privacy Policy

Your cart is empty

Our Spring sale is now ON - Book online or call us on 01386 291000

Yonex Ladies Oxfordshire 2022

SKU: 39525941444660

Compete against other lady golfers in the biggest amateur ladies golf tour in England.

CUSTOMERS TESTIMONIALS

All our events are run in line with the new World Handicapping System. To qualify for prizes, competitors must have a WHS handicap index which will be used to determine playing handicap for the competition. Further information can be found here

We have standard the normal options including debit, credit and AMEX cards. Bank transfer, Paypal and Apple/Google pay :) Flexi Pay For the 2022 season we're giving all new and existing customers the option of spreading payments out. You can secure your booking by paying £25 per person per event and then pay the rest off flexibly at no extra charge. We require the balance to be cleared 60 days before the event starts. If this is something of interest please contact support via [email protected] - Please note this option is currently only available by request and can not be found on the payment screen. Deposits We also offer a deposit option which has proven extremely successful over the years. It's pretty simple, you just pay £25 per person per event and the remaining balance is paid in full no later than 30 days before the first event. If this is an option you would like to use, when you are at the checkout simply follow the steps below. 1. On the checkout fill out your billing information 2. Click continue to payment 3. Scroll down and click Bank Transfer and follow the on screen instructions.

Tee times are released 1-2 weeks before competition. Once they are released we will notify you by email. If you wish to advise us of a tee time preference you must do this in the participation form you are emailed ahead of the competition.

All golfers of any ability with any handicap are welcome to play in our events. In order to win prizes in the WHS bracket there is a handicap limit of 28 for ladies and 24 for men. We allow higher handicaps to enter but to be eligible for prizes you must play off the index 24(m) 28(l)

Yes up to four weeks before a competition you can pay a deposit of £25 per person to secure your place. This can be done by going through the checkout as normal and on the final page selecting Bank Deposit. Once you have selected bank deposit and reserved your place, please then follow the instructions that are presented to you. This will involve you contacting your bank either via online banking, telephone or branch and setting us up as a payee. Bank details are always here https://golfpairs.com/pay if you lose the confirmation email. Use your order number as reference.

We have food and drinks at a select few events. If this event is one of them it will be written in the ‘value’ section at the top page.

Yes you can - we welcome single golfer and we will pair you up. We had runners up in 2020 single golfers at an event who had never met! Just join up and you never know if you can't persuade a partner. In our 2021 events we had two singles paired up on the day win one of our events.

Yes, iGolf handicap indexes are formal and official handicaps. Please note in order to be eligible for prizes you must have played 6 formal competition rounds in the previous 12 months. General play rounds are not accepted for prizes.

Yes, we accept iGolf Handicaps across our competitions. Please note that to be eligible for prizes there may be a minimum requirement for formal competition rounds, which applies equally to iGolf and golf club handicaps. You can find this information on this page by scrolling up.

Launched by England Golf in July 2021, iGolf provides non-club members with access to obtain an official WHS Handicap Index. For just £40 a year, it also gives you the ability to track your performances, measure your progress and message your friends and likeminded golfers, all through the MyEG app. Because it also provides an equitable way of playing the game for those who aren’t club members, it means all iGolf subscribers can enter Golf Pairs events and compete too. To find out more about iGolf, click here.

We require for 2022 all prize winners to have played 6 formal competition rounds in the 12 months prior to the event day. A formal competition (used to be known as Handicap Qualifiers) is managed and administered by an "Authorized Association" (either a golf club or other organization which is licensed by one of the golf unions to run formal competitions). These scores are submitted to the central WHS database by the AA in question, rather than by the individual. A General Play round (formerly supplementary score) counts when calculating handicap index, but are not competition rounds, since they are not administered by an Authorized Association. The full details can be found in the CONGU handbook below. https://www.congu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/WHSDocs/Handicapping-Advice.pdf

Yes you can give us a call on 01386 291000 Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. Alternatively you can email us on [email protected]

Yes you can. If you book as a group we will assume you wish to play together unless you tell us you wish to play consecutively. If you have booked separately you must tell us in the registration form.

You may also like

Recently viewed.

TOURNAMENTS RESULT LIST

• ☆ mark is the First win

Yonex Golf Clubs (7 Key Facts Before You Buy!)

View all posts

Table of Content

Does Yonex Make Golf Clubs?

Are yonex golf clubs any good, what about yonex drivers in particular, does yonex make ladies’ golf clubs, what pro golfers use yonex, are yonex golf clubs made in japan, who owns yonex.

Anyone who has ever played or watched tennis or badminton will be familiar with the Japanese brand, Yonex.

Arguably the global leader in both sports, Yonex has been a leading sports equipment manufacturer since the end of the Second World War.

Since the late eighties, Yonex has also produced a range of golf clubs, including drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, wedges, and putters.

Below, we answer seven important questions relating to Yonex golf clubs, so you have all the information you need to decide if they’re a good fit for your golf game.

Yes, Yonex makes golf clubs for both men and women. Although not one of the most widely played brands, Yonex is known for manufacturing high-quality equipment that is used in a range of sports, and golf is no exception.

So, if you’re looking for high-performing golf clubs from a trusted manufacturer and retailer of sports equipment, Yonex is definitely a brand worth considering. Below, we take you through everything you need to know about Yonex golf clubs to help you decide if they’re a good fit for your game.

Yonex golf clubs are built to high specifications and are a great option for recreational players. For instance, Yonex EZONE GT irons utilize G-BRID technology to produce a super soft feel that aids with ball flight and trajectory.

The irons are made with forged steel and a graphite plate, and the graphite shaft strikes a perfect balance between control and flexibility.

We also love the sleek design and monochrome color scheme of Yonex clubs, ensuring they look as good as they feel when you add them to your bag.

So, while Yonex might not be the most recognizable name in golf, they have long been one of the most trusted brands in several sports, including badminton and tennis.

As such, you can buy from Yonex with confidence and be assured of golf clubs that will help you improve your game.

Yonex manufactures a range of impressive drivers, but the best for recreational players is undoubtedly the EZONE Elite 3.0 driver, as it’s easy to align and is particularly forgiving.

It also hits the mark as far as distance is concerned, making it a perfect addition to the bag for any mid-high handicapper looking to improve their accuracy and consistency off the tee.

This enables a much more forgiving launch which is ideal for beginners and mid-high handicappers.

While the blue color of the driver won’t appeal to everyone, there’s no doubt that the Yonex EZONE Elite 3.0 is an excellent club for recreational players who are looking for a high-spec and forgiving driver.

Yes, Yonex manufactures clubs for ladies. You can buy drivers, fairway woods, hybrids, irons, and putters for ladies directly from the Yonex USA Store. Online golf stores also stock Yonex ladies’ clubs, ranging from individual clubs to full sets.

However, Yonex ladies clubs are just as appealing to recreational golfers, thanks to their forgiving nature and the fact that they’re available for a reasonable price.

Overall, no matter your handicap and the level of golf you currently play, Yonex’s ladies clubs are a great option for you.

The biggest name to play Yonex in the past is Phil Mickelson, who was a Yonex player in the late nineties before switching to Titleist. Former European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie also played Yonex for large parts of his career.

Yonex currently has two professional women’s golfers on its books. The first is Hyo-Joo Kim, who is one of Korea’s rising golf stars.

She won on the JLPGA Tour when she was just sixteen years old, becoming the youngest champion in history. Her biggest win on tour with Yonex came in 2014 when she won the 2014 Evian Championship.

Also representing Yonex is Japanese golfer Suzuka Yamaguchi, who became the youngest ever player to join the US Women’s Open in 2015 when she was just fourteen years old.

She has competed on the LPGA Tour since 2018 and began mixing it with the best golfers in the world when she was just eighteen years old.

So, while Yonex doesn’t currently have many high-profile tour endorsements, the fact that their clubs are played by two of the most exciting young Asian players highlights the quality of the brand.

Whether Yonex receives future brand endorsements at the top level of golf remains to be seen. But given that their clubs are suitable for players at all levels of the sport, you can buy Yonex in the confidence that they will help you improve your game.

Yonex golf clubs are made in Niigata, Japan. The company has a long manufacturing history, starting its journey in the immediate aftermath of the Second World War in 1946. The company began as the Yoneyama Company Ltd. and initially focused on manufacturing motors and fishing equipment.

The nineties saw Yonex become one of the leading brands in the world of sport, and it was publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 1994.

While Yonex has continued manufacturing golf clubs since the late eighties, the company is best known for its high-performing graphite shafts that many golfers utilize on their clubs.

Yonex was founded by Minoru Yoneyama in 1946. In 1983, the Yonex Corporation was established in the United States, and by 1994, the company was publicly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

In 2001, founder Minoru Yoneyama was decorated by the Japanese government for his contribution to sport and in recognition of the fact that Yonex had become a truly global brand.

Today, the company is run from its headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, with subsidiaries in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Taiwan, and China. In other words, it’s a truly global company with representation all around the world.

Although Yonex isn’t one of the most notable brands in golf, it is one of the biggest sporting brands in the world.

Yonex has been making golf equipment since 1989, and their current range of EZONE drivers and irons is ideal for players at different levels of the game.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for golf clubs that will improve your game without breaking the bank, then Yonex is a brand that you need to think seriously about.

With a range of high-profile endorsements in the past, you can buy from Yonex in the confidence that your clubs have been made to high specifications.

Yonex Irons Reviews

Yonex N1-MB Irons Review

RRP: £1,399

Yonex EZONE Elite Irons Review

RRP: £399

Yonex N1-CB Irons Review

RRP: £1,199

Yonex EZONE XPG Irons Review

RRP: £699

Yonex Ezone Tri-G Irons Review

RRP: £1,200

Features a five-piece head construction for maximum distance and forgiveness. The ultra thin-faced iron provides power across the face while the graphite insert enhances feel. A 3D sole design reduces ground resistance at impact.

Yonex Z-Force Irons Review

RRP: £499

Includes video review

Yonex Ezone Forged MB Irons Review

RRP: £1,295

Hand forged in Japan, these blades are designed for the advanced player looking for consistent spin performance and distance control. Click here to go back to the Yonex Ezone Forged MB Irons Feature Page.

Yonex Ezone XP Irons Review

RRP: £569

A double undercut cavity works with the Dual Tungsten Power System and 4g heavier head to create a larger sweetspot. Click here to view the Yonex Ezone XP Irons in more detail

Yonex Ezone PB Better Player Irons Review

RRP: £999

Designed for the player needing a more forgiving forged iron, the hand-forged Pocket Back iron provides a maximum levels of feel and control. Fitted with lightweight NS950 shaft.

Yonex i-Ezone Game Improver Irons Review

Half Cup Face Construction lowers the CG and creates larger sweetspot for more distance and forgiveness on off-centre hits. The clubhead has a Maraging Steel Face and features a 20g Tungsten weight and a graphite plate, which enhances power. There’s...

Yonex VXF Game Improvement Irons Review

RRP: £349

Yonex have impressed with genuinely premium products – such as the Ezone woods and forged irons – in recent years, but they haven’t ignored the game improver market with the VXF irons. Here, now, is updated version. They will offer exceptional...

Yonex Ezone MB Better Player Irons Review

The Yonex Ezone MB irons offer pin-point accuracy with tour level performance. The Muscle-Back Forged Iron is designed for the competitive player looking for consistent spin performance, increased feel and improved accuracy. The short irons have a...

Yonex Ezone Composite Game Improvement Iron Review

The Yonex Ezone Composite features core centre of gravity technology to deliver control with greater distance. The sweetspot is established across a specific area in order to enhance the quality of the strike.

Yonex Ezone SD Super-Game Improvement Iron Review

RRP: £649

The Yonex Ezone SD features double undercut cavity, increasing the size of the sweetspot. With the Power Flow Weight System, each iron has a quality strike and the new sole creates a smooth acceleration through the ball by reducing friction.

Yonex VMS Game Improvement Irons Review

The VMS irons have been designed to carry on the mantle of the VMX irons. They feature two main technologies for enhanced forgiveness. Firstly Yonex’s power weight system sees more weight towards the heel of the long irons to reduce slice, evenly...

Yonex VM-X Steel Game Improvement Irons Review

RRP: £369

The Yonex VM-X Steel Irons feature a mid-sized head with V-con core techonlogy which produces increased power and forgiveness. The head features an ultra-thin 3mm face and V-Con Core cavity technology to provide increased power and forgiveness. The...

Yonex Nanospeed 3i Game Improvement Irons Review

RRP: £799

The Nanospeed 3i irons are the ultimate combination set. Hybrid long irons provide forgiveness, cavity mid irons for pin-seeking accuracy and bladed short irons for precise control. The irons feature an ultra thin 3mm face with carbon graphite...

Yonex VM-X Game Improvement Irons Review

The Yonex VMX Irons are available in Graphite at a cost of £549. Contact: 0208 742 9777 Web: www.yonex.co.uk

Yonex Nanospeed i Game Improvement Irons Review

Contact: 020 8742 9777 Website: www.yonex.co.uk Head: Cavity Back Shaft: Graphite Ladies: Yes Left Handed: Yes Graphite: Yes, £799

Yonex Nanospeed i – Ladies Game Improvement Irons Review

RRP: £600

The Yonex R&D department have utilised the benefits of hybrid, cavity and bladed club head designs in developing the new high performance Ladies Nanospeed i irons.

Saso wins 2nd US Women’s Open title; MacIntyre takes Canadian Open

L ANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Yuka Saso became a U.S. Women’s Open champion for the second time Sunday and took her place in history with a rare footnote — the first Filipina to win the Women’s Open in 2021, and now the first from Japan to win women’s golf’ biggest event.

No matter the flag, the 22-year-old Saso delivered a masterful performance at Lancaster Country Club with a 2-under 68. She ran off four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine amid a series of collapses and won without much drama.

Saso got up-and-down for par from short of the 18th green to finish at 4-under 276, winning by three shots over Hinako Shibuno, who in 2019 became the first Japanese player to capture the Women’s British Open.

They were the only two players under par, the fewest for the Women’s Open in 10 years. Saso’s only other LPGA Tour victory was the Women’s Open at Olympic Club in 2021. She also has two titles on the Japan LPGA.

Andrea Lee, part of a three-way tie for the lead at the start of this wild day, was the last player who had a chance to catch Saso. But the Stanford alum, a former No. 1 amateur, badly missed her tee shot on the easy 16th and had to settle for par, then took bogey on the 17th. Lee took one last bogey on the 18th for a 75 to tie for third with Ally Ewing (66).

Saso has said she wishes she could play for two flags — her mother is from the Philippines, her father from Japan. She decided to switch citizenship before turning 21, and Saso wound up leading a strong showing by Japan — five players among the top 10.

Saso won $2.4 million from the $12 million purse, the largest in women’s golf and in women’s sports at a standalone venue. The victory also put Saso in position to return to the Olympics — she played for the Philippines in 2021 in the Tokyo Games.

HAMILTON, Ontario (AP) — Robert MacIntyre, with father Dougie at his side as his caddie, held on to win the RBC Canadian Open for his first PGA Tour title.

Four strokes ahead entering the final round at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, MacIntyre shot a 2-under 68 to beat playing partner Ben Griffin by a stroke. On the par-4 18th, the 27-year-old Scottish left-hander two-putted for par from 12 feet, holing out from 1 1/2 feet.

MacIntyre finished at 16-under 264 for the breakthrough victory in his 45th career PGA Tour start. The former McNeese State player was a member of Europe’s winning 2023 Ryder Cup team and has two European tour victories, the 2020 Aphrodite Hills Cyprus Showdown and 2022 Italian Open.

Griffin had a 65. He parred the 18th after birdieing the previous three holes.

Corey Conners was the top Canadian, shooting a 65 finish sixth at 12 under. Last year at Oakdale in Toronto, Nick Taylor made a 72-foot eagle putt on the fourth hole of a playoff against Tommy Fleetwood to become the first Canadian to win the event since 1954.

HAMBURG, Germany (AP) — Englishman Laurie Canter held his nerve and overcame three bogeys for a 1-under 72 to win the European Open by two shots.

Canter, who had two appearances on LIV Golf this year before Anthony Kim was signed to join the Saudi-funded league, started the day in a two-way tie with Italy’s Guido Migliozzi.

Migliozzi’s challenge fizzled with a 78, but Canter was under pressure from others after playing his first 10 holes in 1 over. Thriston Lawrence of South Africa and Bernd Wiesberger of Austria were both making moves on the back nine.

Canter, 34, recovered with three birdies on his way in to finish with an overall 13-under 279 to capture his first European tour title.

Keita Nakajima, the former world No. 1 amateur and winner this year of the Hero Indian Open was briefly tied for the lead until bogeys on the two par 5s on the back nine dropped him to sixth place, four shots behind.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Ernie Els won the Principal Charity Classic for his fourth career PGA Tour Champions victory, closing with a 7-under 65 at Wakonda Club to beat defending champion Stephen Ames by two strokes.

Tied with Rod Pampling for the second-round lead, Els eagled the par-5 15th and had five birdies in his bogey-free final round. The 54-year-old Hall of Famer from South Africa finished at 21-under 195.

Ames shot 66. He leads the tour with two victories this season.

Bernard Langer tied for third at 17 under after a 68. Making his fourth start since returning from an Achilles injury, the 66-year-old German star is the tour’s career victory leader with 46.

Pampling (69) and David Duval (67) also were 17 under.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) —Kaito Onishi of Japan won the UNC Health Championship for his first Korn Ferry Tour title, surviving a final-hole bogey for a one-stroke victory over Max McGreevy.

Onishi, the 25-year-old former University of Southern California player, closed with a 4-under 66 to finish at 8-under 272 at Raleigh Country Club., He also won the Japan Tour's 2022 Fujisankei Classic.

McGreevy shot 68. Nelson Ledesma had a 73 to finish third at 5 under.

Ye Won Lee closed with an 8-under 64 for a three-shot victory in the Suhyup Bank MBN Ladies Open, her third Korea LPGA title of the year and her second in her last three starts. Her other was a runner-up in Match Play. Lee chose to turn down her exemption to play in the U.S. Women’s Open this week. ... Perine Delacour of France closed with a 5-under 67 and defeated German amateur Helen Briem (64) in a playoff to win the Dormy Open in Sweden on the Ladies European Tour. ... Hina Arakaki capped off a three-shot victory in the Yonex Ladies with a 2-under 70 in the final round for her first Japan LPGA victory in six years.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

• Election 2024
• Entertainment
• Newsletters
• Photography
• Personal Finance
• AP Investigations
• AP Buyline Personal Finance
• AP Buyline Shopping
• Press Releases
• Israel-Hamas War
• Russia-Ukraine War
• Global elections
• Asia Pacific
• Latin America
• Middle East
• Election Results
• Delegate Tracker
• AP & Elections
• Auto Racing
• 2024 Paris Olympic Games
• Movie reviews
• Book reviews
• Personal finance
• Financial Markets
• Business Highlights
• Financial wellness
• Artificial Intelligence
• Social Media

Lexi Thompson, a 15-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is retiring from full-time golf at 29

Lexi Thompson laughs during a news conference at the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Lexi Thompson smiles while putting on the 18th green during a practice round for the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Lexi Thompson pauses while speaking during a news conference at the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Lexi Thompson hits on the 18th hole during a practice round for the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Lexi Thompson putts on the 18th green during a practice round for the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Lexi Thompson speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Women’s Open golf tournament at Lancaster Country Club, Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

FILE - Lexi Thompson smiles on the 18th green after finishing the final round of the Grant Thornton Invitational, the first mixed-team golf tournament since 1999, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, in Naples, Fla. Lexi Thompson is retiring this year from full-time competition, ending a career filled with a powerful game, an appeal to young fans and plenty of star-crossed moments in the majors.(AP Photo/Steve Nesius, File)

• Copy Link copied

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Golf is all Lexi Thompson has ever known, and one of the more popular players on the LPGA Tour decided Tuesday this will be her last year playing a full schedule.

Thompson chose the U.S. Women’s Open — the major she first played when she was 12 — to announce that she will step away at the end of the year. The 29-year-old American became emotional while talking about the amount of work no one sees and the loneliness she has faced.

Thompson said she has contemplated semi-retirement the last few years and cited mental health as one of the factors that contributed to her decision.

“I think we all have our struggles, especially out here,” she said. “Unfortunately in golf you lose more than you win, so it’s an ongoing battle to continue to put yourself out there in front of the cameras and continuing to work hard and maybe not seeing the results you want and getting criticized for it. So it’s hard.

AP AUDIO: Lexi Thompson, a 15-time winner on the LPGA Tour, is retiring from full-time golf at 29

One of the most iconic figures in women’s golf is retiring before her 30th birthday. Correspondent Gethin Coolbaugh has the story.

“I will stay, yes, I’ve struggled with it — I don’t think there’s somebody out here that hasn’t,” she said. “It’s just a matter of how well you hide it, which is very sad.”

Thompson is playing her 18th U.S. Women’s Open before turning 30. She won the first of her 15 LPGA title at age 16. She is known as much for the majors she lost as the one she captured at the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2014 when she was 19.

EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes a discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org .

She made a vague reference to Grayson Murray, who spoke openly about alcoholism and his struggles with depression and anxiety from life as a tour professional. Murray, who won the Sony Open in January, died by suicide on Saturday.

“Being out here can be a lot. It can be lonely,” she said as her voice began to crack and she wiped away tears. “I just think — especially with what’s happened in golf, as of recent, too — a lot of people don’t realize a lot of what we go through as a professional athlete.

“We’re doing what we love. We’re trying the best every single day. You know, we’re not perfect. We’re humans. Words hurt. It’s hard to overcome sometimes. ... I might not have a huge friend group, but to have the people that matter the most around me have gotten me through some really hard times.”

Exactly what semi-retirement means is not clear. Thompson, whose last LPGA victory came nearly five years ago, said she would love to be on the Solheim Cup team one last time. She likes fitness and is launching an app. But it was time to find something else.

“I’ve only known golf as my life,” Thompson said. “So it’s nice to branch out and be able to enjoy other things.”

The news surprised LPGA players. The notice was posted, and then deleted, a couple of times on various social media channels. Thompson was on the course when it first went out.

“She really dedicated her time to growing the game,” Nelly Korda said. “It’s sad to see that she’s obviously leaving and not going to be out here with us, but she’s had an amazing career, and I wish her the best in this new chapter of her life.”

Thompson was 12 when she qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles, at the time the youngest ever to qualify. She also set an LPGA Tour record as the youngest winner when she captured the Navistar LPGA Classic at age 16.

Both records since have been broken.

Thompson was a runner-up four times in the majors. She lost a five-shot lead in the 2021 U.S. Women’s Open at The Olympic Club with a 41 on the back nine. Most famous was the Kraft Nabisco Championship in 2017 , and she got emotional talking about that.

She was headed for an easy victory in the final round when the LPGA discovered she improperly marked her golf ball on a green in the third round. She was penalized two shots for the violation and two shots for signing for an incorrect score because of the penalty.

“Is this a joke?” she said when a rules official informed her on the 13th hole of the final round that she had been docked four shots, turning a three-shot lead into a one-shot deficit. She rallied to force a playoff before losing to So Yeon Ryu.

“That was a huge moment in my career — not a great one,” she said. “I look at it as I grew a fan base that I never thought I would have in that moment. It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but to be there and to hear chants of my name on 17 coming down the stretch and just to be able to sign all the autographs and go through that moment ... the hardest moment of my career was like a blessing.

“I gained fans that I never thought I would have.”

Thompson grew up playing with two older brothers, both of whom reached the PGA Tour, and she was renowned for her power. She accepted an exemption to play a PGA Tour event in Las Vegas last year , keeping fans in suspense whether she could make the cut until fading.

Thompson could not say how often she would play, only that she would “take it day by day and see how I feel.”

“But I’m very content with this being my last full-time schedule year,” she said.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

University of Idaho Athletics

Women's Golf 02/26/2024

Vandal Women Open Play at GCU Invitational Tuesday

Players mentioned.

Jenna Bruggeman

Yvonne Vinceri

Emma Heyman

Thanks for visiting !

The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy.

We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here.

Thank you for your support!

was not found

• LPGA Newsletters
• LPGA Travel
• Women's Network
• LPGA Professionals
• Members Only
• Lesson Zone
• Membership Information
• Find A Teacher
• Professionals Job Board
• Events Calendar
• LPGA Amateurs
• Become A Member
• Member Login
• LPGA Foundation
• LEADERBOARD
• Changing The Face of Golf
• C-Me Action Plan
• Diversity Policy
• Diverse Supplier Opportunity
• Celebrating the Green
• All Access Series
• Instruction
• Live Stream
• Award Winners
• Hall of Fame
• ROLEX FIRST TIME WINNERS
• ROLEX ANNIKA MAJOR AWARD
• 2024 Player Priority List (PDF)
• TOURNAMENTS
• Download Schedule
• Completed Tournaments
• Drive On Championship
• Solheim Cup
• 2024 Olympics
• CME Group Tour Championship
• QUALIFYING SERIES (Q-SCHOOL)
• LPGA Local Qualifying Rounds
• Hilton Grand Vacations TOC
• LPGA Senior Championship
• Print Schedule
• RACE TO CME GLOBE
• Season Standings
• Past Winners
• Explanation and Points Breakdown
• Projected Points Standing
• CME Group Cares Challenge - Score 1 for St. Jude
• Aon Risk Reward Challenge
• KPMG Performance Insights

Behind the Leaderboard – U.S. Women’s Open Presented by Ally

Arpichaya yubol out in front after a 61 at the shoprite lpga classic presented by acer.

• us womens open

The biggest story in golf so far in 2024 – Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Nelly Korda – was made human by the diabolical 12th hole at Lancaster Country Club. She carded a 10 on a hole for the first time in nearly 8,700 holes as an LPGA Tour professional, her U.S. Women’s Open dream dashed before media center coffee could cool off Thursday morning.

But the week ended with a classic United States Open flourish. Just as two-time major champion Minjee Lee looked poised to sprint away from the pack, Yuka Saso rattled off four birdies in a five-hole stretch on the back nine to reel in her second U.S. Women’s Open title. The two clubs in her bag on the spectrum ends of length played the biggest role in her march to another major championship victory.

Saso brilliant on the greens

While many of the world’s best players struggled to find the right speed on the difficult putting surfaces at Lancaster Country Club, Saso looked downright cozy on the greens. Saso made a grand total of 420 feet of putts for the championship, nearly 50 feet more than any other player. Her 13.5 strokes gained putting were not only best in the field, but they were also the most for any player in a single LPGA Tour event so far in 2024 by nearly half a stroke.

Saso entered the week making about 1.8 putts per round of 10 feet or longer this season. At Lancaster, she made 14 putts of at least 10 feet for the week, the most of any player. Her 34 one-putts for the week were five more than anybody else as well. That she had both a four-putt and a three-putt in the final round and still led the championship in strokes gained putting is a further testament to just how incredible she was with her shortest club throughout the week. 

At just 22 years old, Saso is the youngest two-time U.S. Women’s Open champion in history, surpassing Hollis Stacy (24 years, 4 months, 17 days in 1978) for that distinction. The Japanese player is just the fourth player from outside the United States to win multiple U.S. Women’s Open titles, joining Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), Inbee Park (Republic of Korea) and Karrie Webb (Australia). Saso is the third player in LPGA Tour history to earn both of her first two wins in majors, joining Se Ri Pak and In Gee Chun – the previous winner of a U.S. Women’s Open held at Lancaster Country Club.

Power player

Saso also used her power game to significant gains throughout the week. She was one of just three players to average at least 270 yards off the tee across all four rounds, joining Maude-Aimee Leblanc and Yan Liu. Saso ranked third for the week in strokes gained off the tee, behind only Alexa Pano and Casandra Alexander.

Compared to the rest of the contenders at Lancaster, performance off the tee was an especially vital element to Saso’s success. Saso got 34.2% of her total strokes gained from shots off the tee. The remainder of the players in the top-10? Just 11.3%

With just one top-10 finish on the season entering the week, Saso had a 1.8% pre-tournament probability of winning according to KPMG Performance Insights, the 17th-highest rate of any player. Saso will invariably be much higher in those projections in the years to come when analyzing the difficult setups presented by the U.S. Women’s Open.

A trying test

Throughout the week, Lancaster Country Club again showed why it’s one of the most underrated championship venues in the United States. As enormous crowds were treated to an excellent week of competition, the golf course showed its teeth while identifying a fitting champion.

Just two players finished the championship under par, the fewest at a U.S. Women’s Open in ten years. At Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014, winner Michelle Wie West was the sole player to finish with a score better than par. For the week, the field finished with an average score to par of +4.02, again the highest for a U.S. Women’s Open since Pinehurst in 2014 (+4.61). The field hit the green in regulation at just over 61% for the championship, significantly below the average on the LPGA Tour this season (about 66%). 

Performances to build upon

Ally Ewing tied the low round of the championship on Sunday, carding a brilliant 66. Her approach play was excellent, as she gained more than four strokes on the field, a personal season-high for any single round. Across the final two rounds, Ewing’s average proximity to the hole on approach shots was 23 feet, about half the field average for the championship. Her tie for third place is her best career result in any major.

Fellow U.S. Solheim Cup Team member Andrea Lee tied with Ewing, also picking up her best career finish in a major championship. Lee is the only player to have finished in the top-20 in each of the last three LPGA majors contested. The former top-ranked amateur in the world, Lee can’t play the power game like some of her peers; last week, she surrendered nearly 40 yards off the tee on average to Saso.

But when her approach play and putting are sharp, she can still compete with anybody, anywhere. Lee has gained at least one stroke with her approach play and her putting in eight rounds this season, including in three rounds at last week’s U.S. Women’s Open. Her scoring average when she does that is 68.38.

In just her fourth start of the LPGA season, Atthaya Thitikul is rediscovering her peak form. Thitikul closed her championship with rounds of 68-68, tied for the second-best closing 36-hole score of any player (Ewing shot 68-66). The 21-year-old from Thailand gained 6.79 strokes with her ball striking on the weekend, most of any player. It was her seventh top-10 finish in a major since the summer of 2021.

Related Articles

Yubol flirts with opening round of 59 at ShopRite LPGA Classic

Yuka Saso Soars into Top 15 After Winning the US Womens Open presented by Ally

Allie Knight: No Stranger to the Major Stage

• Charitable Solicitation Disclosures
• Corporate Sponsors
• LPGA History
• LPGA International
• Sponsorship Opportunities
• Legends of the LPGA

Fan Feature

• LPGA Women's Network
• ADA Act Request
• Anti-Doping Information
• Feedback Form
• Gender Policy
• Integrity Program Information
• Media - Press Site
• Player Login
• Privacy Policy
• Professionals Member Login
• Terms and Conditions
• Ticket Terms and Conditions

Global Tour

• International TV Distribution

Mobile Apps

• Android App
• Top Stories

Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser.

• Compare Products

FORGED IRONS

Royal EZONE

EZONE ELITE 4

EZONE PUTTERS / TP PUTTERS

• Remove This Item

Items 1 - 12 of 42

• You're currently reading page 1