Minjee Lee returns from break to finish runner-up
Minjee Lee – photo Kyle Rivas – Getty Images
Minjee Lee has added yet another high finish to what has been a breakthrough year in many respects, when finishing joint runner-up at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Arkansas.
Lee shared the lead into to day’s final round and was still a factor playing the final hole of the 54 hole event but was unable to record the birdie at the par 5 last, missing a 15 foot birdie putt which would have seen her in a playoff with Japan’s Nasa Hataoka who would finish one ahead of Lee and Korea’s Eun Hee Ji.
Hataoka won the event for the second time having won in 2018. Holes in one on two consecutive days this week clearly assisted her cause
Lee, also, has a good record in the event, this being her fifth top ten in seven starts and her best finish at the Pinnacle Country Club.
Lee had a month away from tournament golf after a win at the Evian Championship followed soon after by a 5th place finish at the AIG Women’s Open and it would appear she has benefited from the break.
This was Lee’s 5th top 5 finish of the season and will improve her standing in the current Race to the Globe from her current 10th place.
Su Oh and Lydia Ko tied for 25th, Sarah Jane Smith recorded by far her best finish of the year when 34th and Katherine Kirk who lead after round one faded to finish 42nd.
The winner Nasa Hataoka – Jamie Sabau Getty / LPGA
