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Ruoning Yin Triumphs at Baltusrol
Yin wins first major at Women’s PGA, Keegan is a winner again, and a difficult test in Korea
Jack Middlebrook
June 26, 2023
Winner’s Circle
Travelers Championship
Women's PGA Championship
Earth Mondahmin Cup
Kolon Korea Open
BMW International Open
Compliance Solutions Championship
Hankyung Ladies Cup
Japan Players Championship
Tipsport Czech Ladies Open
Jalisco Open GDL
Women's PGA Championship
Ruoning Yin of China won the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol. The 20-year-old Shanghai native won her first major with a stellar bogey-free 67 on Sunday. Over the weekend, Yin put on a ball-striking clinic where she hit every green in regulation.
Perfect Saturday and Sunday at Baltusrol 💯
Ruoning Yin | @KPMGWomensPGA
— LPGA (@LPGA)
11:22 PM • Jun 25, 2023
Down the stretch, Yin came up clutch on the par five 18th, draining a 10-footer for birdie to edge Yuka Saso by one shot. The win is Yin’s second of the year after winning earlier in the season at the LA Open, and she hasn’t missed a cut all year. The $1.5 million for the winner is also the largest purse of the year in the women’s game.
Yuka Saso came up just a shot short in her effort for a second career major. Saso made an excellent up and down from a greenside bunker on 18 for birdie and was the first player in the clubhouse at seven under. Yin’s birdie moments later left Saso in solo second. With her final round 66, Saso earned her best performance since her 2021 US Open victory.
Leona Maguire ran out of steam on Sunday. She started the final round with a one-shot lead but couldn’t get anything going in her final round and fell into a tie for eleventh. Following a victory last week and leading a major championship after 54 holes, it was a disappointing finish for Maguire.
Rose Zhang had a strong weekend showing with a 68 and a 67 to get into the top 10.
After making the cut on the number, Anna Nordqvist played the weekend in eleven under and managed to get into a tie for third.
As we bid adieu to Baltusrol Golf Club, the women's golf world now takes a week off before the U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach.
PGA Tour - Travelers Championship
Keegan Bradley won at the Travelers by three shots with an impressive 23-under par for the week. Keegan's game was a model of consistency, making 27 birdies and only four bogeys all week, with three of those bogeys in his final nine holes.
Adding to the resume 🏆
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR)
1:30 AM • Jun 26, 2023
It was a big win for Bradley. A New England native, Bradley mentioned in his press conference that he grew up going to the Travelers and said this was the tournament he wanted to win outside of the majors. The local favorite received significant support from the crowd, creating an electric atmosphere as the day concluded.
Coming in at a tie for second were Zac Blair and Brian Harman, both finishing the championship 20-under par. Despite not being the longest drivers, Blair and Harman took full advantage of TPC River Highlands, one of the shorter courses on the PGA Tour. Blair's final round 62 was particularly noteworthy considering his need for a good finish to retain his PGA Tour card. Blair is currently playing under a major medical exemption following shoulder surgery in late 2020.
Chez Reavie couldn't maintain his blistering early-round form, finishing the final round with a disappointing one-over and in a tie for fourth.
Justin Thomas made it into the top 10 and had his best finish of the year since his fourth-place finish at the WM Phoenix Open in February. Thomas was coming off two missed cuts at the U.S. Open and the Memorial.
DP World Tour - BMW International Open
Thriston Lawrence of South Africa beat out Joost Luiten to win in Germany. Lawrence came from behind on Sunday in a roller-coaster of a final round that included eight birdies and five bogeys.
Joost Luiten lost his lead on Sunday after three-putting on three occasions. Luiten failed to make birdie on the par five 18th to force a playoff and handed Lawrence the victory.
Asian Tour - Kolon Korea Open
Seungsu Han won in a difficult test on the Asian Tour at the Korea Open. Han won by six shots and was the only player under par for the week.
If you thought the U.S. Open played too easy, then the setup at Woo Jeong Hills offered the other extreme, where only two players shot under par on Sunday.