Michelle Wie’s days as a young phenom are over. In her early years she did things very few women players ever did, competing against the best women in her mid-teenage years and later taking on the men in a few PGA Tour events that included two appearances in the John Deere Classic. With five wins…
Author: lenz
Inbee Park benefits from a lighter tournament schedule
The world’s No. 1-ranked woman’s golfer has barely played half the tournaments as her leading rivals have, but don’t worry about Korean Inbee Park heading into Thursday’s start of the 64th KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. Park has played in only nine tournaments this season, and that was by design. At 29 she’s learned that her…
North Carolina’s Balsam Mountain Preserve will knock it out of the park
There was never a doubt about the beauty of Balsam Mountain Preserve, a private club located in the hills of Western North Carolina. The abundant views of Doubletop Mountain made the site attractive to – among others — the Arnold Palmer Design company, which built one of the most visually stunning mountain courses in the…
Jutanugarn says Kemper Lakes has harder course than Olympia Fields
How time flies. In 2011 Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn won the U.S. Junior Girls tournament at Olympia Fields. Now she’s one of the very best players in women’s golf with a No. 2 world ranking, winner of nine LPGA tournaments the champion in two majors including this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Olympia wasn’t so kind to…
Refreshed Kang is ready to defend her KPMG title at Kemper Lakes
The champion will defend at this week’s 64th KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes. There was some doubt about that when Danielle Kang pulled out after 11 holes at the Meijer Classic in Michigan two weeks ago, citing only “personal reasons.’’ Last week Kang didn’t seem ready for a major title defense either. She…
Bonanno, Yuen take on Western Am challenge at Mistwood
Sabrina Bonanno of Norridge and Jessica Yuen of Bolingbrook were dominant golfers in the Illinois high school ranks and have been solid college players. Starting Tuesday, however, they’ll be experiencing something new and different as far as competition goes. Both are in the select 120-player field in the 118th Women’s Western Amateur at Mistwood in…
Kemper Lakes hosted one Chicago tournament that Annika DIDN’T win
Kemper Lakes has a rich history for hosting men’s tournaments. With the women it’s a little different. This week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship is by far the club’s biggest ever. The only one that comes close was 26 years ago when Kemper was still a public facility. In 1992 the U.S. Women’s Amateur was played…
Women’s PGA at Kemper Lakes will be a wide-open affair
Golf’s only major championship presently scheduled at a Chicago area course tees off next week when the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship comes to Kemper Lakes in Kildeer. The event, one of five majors on the Ladies PGA Tour, was played at Olympia Fields last year with Danielle Kang the champion. Based on what’s been happening…
Great golf and beer — this area of Michigan is a mecca for both
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan – This is hardly breaking news. Michigan has been a golfing hotspot for, well – almost forever. Michigan has over 850 public courses, more than any other state in the nation, and golf generates more than $4 billion to the state’s economy. You can pick virtually any section of Michigan for a…
Ghim, Lumsden, Meyer have a great opportunity at the U.S. Open
The 118th U.S. Open tees off on Thursday at New York’s Shinnecock Hills course with the usual representation of Chicago players among the 156 starters. This year it’s a little different, however, because two of local hopefuls are amateurs. For Arlington resident Doug Ghim it’ll be his last event before turning pro. He got into…