LOS ANGELES – Minjee Lee took advantage of fellow Australian Hannah Green’s problems Friday to take the second-round lead in the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open.

The fourth-ranked Lee shot a 2-under 69 to reach 7-under 135 at Wilshire Country Club. She holed a wedge from 114 yards for eagle on the par-4 14th.

“Out of all the ones that I have been close to making, I think that’s the only one that I actually saw like drop into the hole,” Lee said. “It was pretty cool to see it happen for the first time.”

Green birdied three of the first six holes to get to 9 under, then played the final 12 in 5 over for a 73 that left her three strokes back at 4 under. She had a double bogey after hitting into the water on the par-4 17th – her eighth hole – and also had three bogeys.

“I just hit a really bad shot and got into the water,” Green said. “Couldn’t really get myself out of jail, but definitely did not have the putter rolling as much as I would’ve liked. Had a couple three-putts, so that was pretty disappointing.”

Lee had the eagle, two birdies and two bogeys.

“I think like it’s a second-shot golf course, so obviously it’s pretty generous off the tee,” Lee said. “If you have your irons on and you have solid iron play then it’s really going to help you. I think that’s what I’m good at, so, yeah, I think that’s what is really helping me.”

The four-time LPGA Tour winner tied for third last week in Hawaii for her third top-three finish of the season.

Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen was second after a 67.

“If you hit a good drive you get rewarded and you don’t have too far on the green, but if you’re a little bit off-line then it gets hard,” she said.

Morgan Pressel (66) and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez (68) were 5 under.

“This course kind of has its quirks to where if you get on the wrong side of the pin it can be really challenging to get it up and down and save par,” Pressel said. “I played smart and gave myself a lot of opportunities.”

She was in the first group of the day off the first tee.

“It was definitely fresh greens,” Pressel said. “Poana can definitely get bouncy, especially late in the afternoon.”

Stacy Lewis, tied with Green for the first-round lead, matched Green with a 73 to finish at 4 under with playing partner Inbee Park (70), Danielle Kang (66), Jaclyn Lee (67), Shanshan Feng (70). Calgary’s Lee had a stellar round going which included an eagle on the par-5 2nd, before giving back two strokes with consecutive bogeys to close the round. She finished the day with a 4-under 67.

We see you, @JaclynLee57! 6 under thru 11 with the share of the lead at @lpga_la ??@BrookeHenderson and @ACTanguay both inside top 10 ?? pic.twitter.com/PztaPU33hD

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 26, 2019

Lewis had six bogeys, three on the first four holes.

“I really hit it good all day,” she said. “Hit a couple squirrely shots, but it was harder, I thought, with the wind this afternoon.”

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko was 2 under after her second straight 70, playing alongside third-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn and No. 7 Brooke Henderson.

Henderson, the winner in Hawaii, was 1 under after a 73. Jutanugarn was another shot back after a 71.

Second-ranked Sung Hyun Park, No. 6 Lexi Thompson and No. 10 Nelly Korda missed the cut. Sung Hyun Park shot 76-71, Thomson 75-72 and Korda 73-77.

The RBC Canadian Open will be providing exemptions to a wide range of competitors for the 2019 championship, being conducted June 3-9 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

Exemptions have long been an important and unique facet in bringing together a field of competitors for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.

Exemptions for 2019 will be formalized over the coming weeks leading into the event, with the final four spots awarded on the Monday of tournament week following the Monday Qualifier at Heron Point Golf Links.

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open champion earns the $1,368,000 winner’s share of the US$7.6 million total prize purse along with 500 FedExCup points, two-year exempt status on the PGA TOUR, exemptions into the 2019 Open Championship and 2020 Sentry Tournament of Champions, and an invitation to the 2020 Masters Tournament and Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open is also part of the Open Championship Qualifying Series. The top-3 finishes (not otherwise exempt) earn a spot in the field of The Open Championship in July at Royal Portrush.

For RBC Canadian Open Tournament Director Bryan Crawford, the new June date of the RBC Canadian Open as well as strong performances by Canadian professional and amateur competitors on the global stage has made decisions related to RBC Canadian Open exemptions more difficult than ever.

“What we’re seeing in 2019, especially with our new date on the PGA TOUR schedule, is tremendous interest from European Tour players looking for the opportunity to compete in the RBC Canadian Open,” said Crawford. “Similarly, its exciting to have such a deep roster of talented Canadians performing well on tours around the globe as it’s important to provide playing opportunities for our Canadian players. All are positive considerations, and while it makes for tougher decisions against certain categories, the end result is a talented and deserving field of competitors challenging for Canada’s National Men’s Open Championship.”

The 2019 RBC Canadian Open field is limited to 156 participants with both professionals and amateurs eligible to participate, and a total of 24 exemptions are available into the RBC Canadian Open in various categories.

Following the conclusion of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, Golf Canada will review and evaluate the full slate of exemption categories.

EXEMPTION CATEGORIES

Category A – 2018 Canadian Men’s Amateur & Mid-Amateur Champions [2 positions]: 

Both 2018 champions receive playing positions in the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, provided they remain amateur. Two-time reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion Zachary Bauchou of Forest, VA will be joined by 2018 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur champion Joseph Deraney of Belden, MS.

Category B – Regional & Final Qualifying [7 positions]:

Three (3) Regional Qualifying competitions will be conducted May 6 at Kings Lakes by the Sea in Delta, British Columbia, May 16 at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North) in Caledon, Ontario and May 27 at Elm Ridge Country Club (North) in L’Ile Bizard, Quebec. The low qualifier at each regional competition receives an exemption directly into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, provided a minimum of 100 competitors participate at each regional site, and up to the next 15% of the field will be eligible to compete in Final Qualifying. Amateurs must have a handicap not exceeding 0.

Final Qualifying – conducted Monday June 3 at Heron Point Golf Links in Alberton, Ontario — will be available to those exempt or who have qualified through regional qualifying, non-exempt PGA TOUR members and others, with four (4) spots directly into the 2019 RBC Canadian Open. Qualifying is open to all professionals and amateurs, with a maximum field size of 144 competitors. Amateurs must have a handicap not exceeding 2.0.

Category C – PGA TOUR Member [2 positions]:

Two spots into the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open are allocated to members of the PGA TOUR who are not otherwise exempt into the field.

Category D – Web.com Graduate [2 positions]:

Two 2018 Web.com Tour graduates who earned their PGA TOUR cards for the 2018-2019 season, and who are not otherwise exempt.

Category E – PGA of Canada [1 position]:

One spot into the field of the 2019 RBC Canadian Open is awarded to the PGA of Canada’s Order of Merit leader as of June 1, 2019.

Category F – Mackenzie Tour-PGA TOUR Canada [3 positions]:

One spot will be awarded to the highest ranked Mackenzie Tour alumni on the 2019 Web.com Tour Money List through the Evans Scholar Invitational, as of May 26, 2019, and that played a minimum of six (6) Mackenzie Tour events in 2018.

One spot will be awarded to each of the winners of the first two tournaments on the 2019 Mackenzie Tour schedule—the Canada Life Open (May 23-26 at Point Grey Golf and Country Club in Vancouver, British Columbia) and the Bayview Place DC Bank Open (May 30 to June 2 at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, British Columbia).

Category H – At Large [7 positions]:

These exemptions will be allocated to players at the discretion of Golf Canada based on performances from Tours worldwide. Players can be Canadian or foreign, amateur or professional to be considered.

Professionals finishing in the top-10 at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open, and not otherwise exempt, can enter into the next regular-field event on the PGA TOUR schedule (Travelers Championship).

If an amateur wins:

• The player would not receive the champion’s prize money or the 500 FedEx Cup points, but they would earn the invitations to the other tournaments.

With respect to exempt status, if the player chooses to stay an amateur, they can play out of the winner’s category through 2020-21, but would be limited to non-member regulations (i.e., a maximum of 12 PGA TOUR starts for the season). If they turn pro after the win, they still would not receive the prize money or FedEx Cup points but would be fully exempt and have all the benefits of being a member.

WOODBURN, Oreg. – Canadian Naomi Ko has punched her ticket back to the U.S. Women’s Open.

Ko, a Victoria, B.C., product, bested the 56-player field earn medalist honours with a final score of 3 under par (70-71) at the OGA Golf Course, one of 25 qualifying sites this year. The win marks the second time Ko earned a spot in the LPGA major—she qualified in 2016 as an 18-year-old.

The Team Canada National Amateur Squad member will take to Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, S.C., when action gets underway from May 30 – June 2.

Click here for full scores.

Decent day of scores continues for @GolfCanada players. @naomiko_golf was medalist at her @uswomensopen QF site and will play her second US Open. Been trending ↗️ and starting to play nicely again. #kokoproud

— Tristan Mullally (@tmullallygolf) April 26, 2019

AVONDALE, La. – Nearly three inches of heavy rain and lightning forced a stoppage in play lasting more than seven hours Thursday during the first round of the Zurich Classic team event.

The first players to tee off were on the course for a little more than 2 1/2 hours before the horn sounded to suspend play.

The tandem of Joel Dahmen and Brandon Harkins left the course with the lead at 6 under through nine holes at the par-72 TPC Louisiana course southwest of New Orleans.

Canadian Nick Taylor and partner Martin Laird of Scotland share 2nd place at 10 under par.

One group played as many as 10 holes before play was stopped. Play resumed in the evening with just more than two hours of daylight left.

As the only team event on the PGA Tour, the Zurich Classic field is comprised of 80 two-player teams that play a best-ball format in the first and third rounds and alternate shot in the second and final rounds.

LOS ANGELES – Worn out after two long nights with infant daughter Chesnee, Stacy Lewis shot a 6-under 65 on Thursday for a share of the lead with Hannah Green halfway through the first round of the Hugel-Air Premia LA Open.

“I’m looking forward to get a little rest,” Lewis said. “Really with the baby it’s different every day. She could be in a great mood and all of a sudden she’s screaming and you don’t know why. And we’re getting teeth, so it’s just the age that she is.”

The 34-year-old Texan is making her sixth LPGA Tour start since Chesnee’s birth in late October.

“My mom was here. She left on Monday,” Lewis said. “My husband (University of Houston women’s golf coach Gerrod Chadwell) is coming in tonight. I wanted to just kind of see how was it by myself for a couple days, and she chose to have her worst night in months right after my mom leaves.”

She birdied four of her last six holes in the bogey-free round at Wilshire Country Club.

“I hit it good and putted well,” Lewis said. “That’s kind of the combination that’s been missing, is just putting both of them together. Finally did it on the same day.”

She missed the cut last year, shooting 75-73.

“Last year it was super firm and so I did not like the golf course,” Lewis said. “Just felt like you didn’t get rewarded with good shots, and it was a little bit of goofy golf. Now the greens are much more receptive and you can just hit a lot better golf shots. They’re still difficult to putt, but I just feel like you get rewarded more for good shots.”

The 12-time tour winner played alongside Inbee Park and Sung Hyun Park.

“It was nice playing with Inbee,” Lewis said. “I hadn’t played with her in a while. I love playing with her because she hits so many good putts. Kind of get some confidence just seeing the ball roll really well.”

Inbee Park had a 68. The second-ranked Sung Hyun Park shot 76.

Green also had a bogey-free round.

“My ball-striking was great, but also my putter was really hot,” Green said. “I was really happy with how I rolled it. … I think whoever wins this week will have the least amount of putts.”

Fellow Australian Minjee Lee was a stroke back, also playing bogey-free.

“It was pretty solid all round,” said Lee, ranked fourth. “I just hit the greens and then if I was close, I would try and take opportunity of my birdie chances. If not, then I would be able to have a par.”

Canada’s Anne-Catherine Tanguay followed at 67.

Anne-Catherine Tanguay (Getty Images)

Top-ranked Jin Young Ko played in the afternoon. She’s the only player with multiple victories this year, taking the Founders Cup in Phoenix and the major ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage.

Ko was group with Brooke Henderson, the Lotte Championship winner last week in Hawaii, and third-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn.

All smiles for last week’s champ, @BrookeHenderson. She’s back in contention with 3-under 68 to share 5th place @lpga_LA ????

Fellow Canadian @ACTanguay leads the way at 4 under par ? pic.twitter.com/6moYE6eRHu

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 26, 2019

Defending champion Moriya Jutanugarn, Ariya’s older sister, opened with a 71.

Jessica Kordahad a 74, playing a four-hole stretch in 5 over with three straight bogeys and a double bogey.

Sixth-ranked Lexi Thompson also struggled, shooting 75. She was 5 over in a five-span, also making three bogeys and a double bogey.

Trafalgar Golf and Country Club will ensure their legacy is instilled in the Milton community for years to come, by making a donation to the Future Links, driven by Acura Golf in Schools program.

President Bob Hunter, Men’s Captain Neil Gartshore and Finance Committee Chair John Reynolds presented the program with a $9,600 donation on behalf of the membership at Trafalgar.

“In 1958, Trafalgar Golf and Country Club and its members had a vision. That was, to be recognized as one of the premier golf facilities in Southern Ontario, dedicated to the mentoring and growth of junior golf”, says Bob Hunter, President of Trafalgar Golf and Country Club.

“Despite its closing as a private golf club after 60 years, the donation, on behalf of the members, is the continuation of the dream…one that creates a legacy, that will reach thousands of students in the Milton area. The membership at Trafalgar Golf and Country Club, wishes to extend our sincere congratulations to Golf Canada and its Future Links Golf In Schools program and to extend our thanks for your commitment to the growth of junior golf across this country and beyond”.

Today, we are celebrating Adopt a School Week with #GolfinSchools! Help create the next Canadian #golf hero by adopting a school in your community ⛳️

➡️ https://t.co/FCzROaAhzf pic.twitter.com/px0kRYRc3L

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 22, 2019

The generosity of Trafalgar will allow 20 elementary schools to be adopted into the Golf in Schools program.  Providing them with a first exposure to golf opportunity in in their physical education classes.  A Golf in Schools donation includes the full program kit, which features safe, age-appropriate golf clubs along with a teacher-friendly learning resource. Developed in conjunction with the PGA of Canada and Physical Health Education (PHE) Canada, the learning resource incorporates Life Skills into the curriculum—placing added focus on transferrable skills both on and off the golf course.

“We can’t thank the membership at Trafalgar enough for their generous donation”, says Jeff Thompson, chief sport officer. “This donation is a great way for Trafalgar’s legacy to live on in the community they were a part of for so long.  We look forward to working with schools in Milton to introduce the game of golf to their students.”

Trafalgar Golf and Country Club is a Golf Canada member club in Milton, Ont., that opened its doors in 1958. Since then, several notable Canadian golfers have grown up learning the game at Trafalgar, including Sandra Post. Having a recognized, thriving junior golf program is something the course has always been proud of.

The decision was made in September 2018 that Trafalgar Golf and Country Club would be sold to land developers in Milton, seizing operations as a private facility in 2019.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Team Canada’s Brigitte Thibault went wire-to-wire at Mission Hills Country Club to win the Mountain West Conference, becoming the fourth golfer to do so in program history for Fresno State. The sophomore closed the event with a two-stroke victory at 1 over par, boosted by the strength of two strong opening rounds (71-70).

Thibault—who played in the inaugural Augusta Women’s Amateur—was thrilled to pick up her first collegiate win at an iconic course.

“I’m so glad to get my first collegiate conference championship win, at Mission Hills, because that’s where the Q School is, that’s where the ANA is, it’s a lot on the future opportunities,” said Thibault. “I’m really proud of myself to step it up at this major championship. I’m really happy.”

“Really proud of Brigitte,” said head coach Emily Loftin. “Excellent play over three days and she learned to manage herself with having a lead and it’s great to see that type of growth in a young player. This should help catapult her moving into postseason. I’m always elated when we get a victory, but even more so when it’s the first one at the conference championship, just an exciting day all-around.”

Thibault, a Rosemère, Que., native, lifted the Bulldogs to a fifth place team finish. The NCAA Regionals from May 6-8 at four different sites, followed by the championship from May 17-22 – Thibault was named as an individual participant in the Auburn regional championship. The selection marks the fifth time Fresno State has been represented in the postseason over the last six years.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – C.T. Pan took advantage of Dustin Johnson’s back-nine meltdown to win the RBC Heritage for his first PGA Tour victory.

The 27-year-old Pan, from Taiwan, closed with a 4-under 67 on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links for a one-stroke victory over Matt Kuchar. Pan finished at 12-under 272.

The top-ranked Johnson, the third-round leader in his home-state event, had a 77 to tie for 28th at 4 under. He played a five-hole stretch in 7 over, making bogeys on Nos. 11-13 and double bogeys on Nos. 14-15.

Pan took the lead for good with a 9-foot birdie putt on the par-4 16th.

Kuchar closed with a 67.

Patrick Cantlay, Scott Piercy and Shane Lowry tied for third at 10 under. Cantlay and Piercy shot 69, and Lowry had a 70.

Pan headed to the practice range after the round to keep ready in case of a playoff, then raised his arms in triumph when told he’d won. He earned $1,242,000, a PGA Tour exemption through 2020-21 and spots in next month’s PGA Championship and next year’s Masters. He’s the RBC Heritage’s fourth straight first-time winner.

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Congrats to our friends at the @RBCHeritage for a successful tournament week. And, congrats to @ctpan63 for earning his first @PGATOUR win ?#PlaidNation

A post shared by RBC Canadian Open (@rbccanadianopen) on Apr 22, 2019 at 7:25am PDT

KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Brooke Henderson didn’t join the LPGA Tour thinking she would end up amongst the best Canadian golfers of all-time. At least not so soon, anyway.

Henderson tied the Canadian record for most career victories on the LPGA or PGA Tour on Saturday when the 21-year-old captured her eighth career title by shooting a 2-under 70 to win the Lotte Championship for the second year in a row.

Sandra Post had eight career victories on the LPGA Tour between 1968 and 1981, while Mike Weir and George Knudson equalled that on the PGA Tour.

“When I was younger it was just a goal to be on the LPGA Tour, to win my first event,” Henderson said.

“And when that happened and I won my first major the year after, things kind of just started to fall into place. I knew the record was eight. Just kept creeping toward it the last three years, which was really exciting.”

Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., won last year’s event in Hawaii for her sixth Tour victory and followed that up in August 2018 as the first Canadian in 45 years to win the CP Women’s Open.

“I think starting last year I sort of saw that it was within my reach if I had two good seasons. Last year put me into great position, and coming back this year it’s been on the back of my mind every week that I tee it up. I’m just really happy that I have finally done it.

“Looking forward to overtaking it now.”

She finished 16 under on Saturday at Ko Olina Golf Club to beat South Korea’s Eun-Hee Ji by four strokes.

All the highlights from Brooke’s repeat performance in Hawaii ???? pic.twitter.com/XDRFo8KBht

— Golf Canada (@GolfCanada) April 21, 2019

Nelly Korda, tied with Henderson for the third-round lead, finished with a quadruple-bogey 8 for a 77 that left her seven strokes back at 9 under. She hit into the water twice on 18, then threw her ball in after finishing. The 20-year-old American also had a double bogey on the par-4 seventh.

“Pretty bad,” Korda said. “I mean, it was a tough day, but I ended really poorly and I’m pretty disappointed in that. … It was an unfortunate final round, but there is nothing I can do about it anymore.”

Ariya Jutanugarn (73) and 2016 winner Minjee Lee (74) tied for third at 11 under.

Henderson bogeyed her first hole, but that was the only blemish in the final round as she followed that up with three birdies and 14 pars.

She looked to be in some trouble on the par-4 16th, but saved par when she hit a put from off the green.

“It’s really amazing to even be mentioned in the same sentence as Mike Weir, George, and Sandra,” Henderson said. “This week was really special. I always love coming to Hawaii. Last year was such an incredible week for me, to be able to hoist that trophy for the first time. Coming back I knew I knew the golf course really well.”

Fellow Canadian and Olympic teammate Alena Sharp watched Henderson play out the round and joined her in celebration.

“Congrats my friend ?BrookeHenderson! Unbelievable title defense and tying Sandra Post’s record for most wins by a Canadian on the ?LPGA tour. So freaking proud of you!,” tweeted Sharp (72), who finished 2 under for 40th place.

Henderson takes home US$300,000 for the win. Through seven events in 2019, she has made six cuts, has one victory, three top-10 finishes and one top-15 finish for $498,151 total earnings.

Henderson, ranked No. 12 in the world, has one major among her tournament victories, winning the 2016 KPMG Women’s PGA Championship after beating Lydia Ko in a playoff when she was only 18.

KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Defending champion Brooke Henderson shot a 3-under 69 on Friday at blustery Ko Olina Golf Club for a share of the third-round lead with Nelly Korda in the Lotte Championship.

Korda had a 71, matching Henderson with a bogey on the par-4 18 to get to 14-under 202.

“There are still 18 more holes left and a lot can happen” Korda said. “The weather is unpredictable. The wind swirls and gusts, so it’ll be an interesting day. We’re all going to be fighting.”

The 21-year-old Henderson, from Smiths Falls, Ont., is trying to match Sanda Post record for LPGA Tour victories by a Canadian with eight.

“It was really windy today,” Henderson said. “Really had to stay patient.”

The 20-year-old Korda won the Women’s Australian Open in February for her second LPGA Tour title. She opened the season with five straight top-10 finishes before tying for 52nd two weeks ago in the major ANA Inspiration. On Friday, she birdied Nos. 12, 14 and 16, before dropping the stroke on 18.

Defending champ @BrookeHenderson making it look easy at @LPGALOTTE! She’s tied for the lead heading into the finale ???? pic.twitter.com/WGzseMJOQQ

— CP Women’s Open (@cpwomensopen) April 20, 2019

“Was a bit of a frustrating day on the front nine,” Korda said. “Was not hitting it well. I was not putting well at all. Kind of got it back on the back nine. It was pretty frustrating today. Wasn’t the happiest camper out there.”

Minjee Lee and second-round leader Eun-Hee Ji were a stroke back. Lee, the Australian who won the 2016 event, had a 70. She was bogey-free and also birdie-free, but did chip-in for eagle on the fifth hole.

“It was pretty hard out there,” Lee said. “The wind was really gusty and the pin placements were pretty hard for the wind direction we had.”

Ji shot 74 after opening with rounds of 65 and 74.

“It’s still a really packed leaderboard, and whoever plays really well tomorrow is going to come out on top or close to the top,” Henderson said. “Right now it’s hard to say what that number is going to be. Kind of all just depends on the wind.”

Ariya Jutanugarn made the third day’s most dramatic move, shooting a 66 to bolt from nine back to two. She avoided bogeys, drained long putts – she needed just 23 – and birdied all but one of the par 5s.

“I think the most important thing today is I feel I’m really too far behind the lead,” Jutanugarn said. “I feel like I can’t catch anyway, so what I want to do is just be patient, do my best every shot.”

Henderson was even par on the front nine, then birdied four of the first six on the back, slam dunking a speeding putt from off the 13th green.

“I knew I had to get going a little bit, make some birdies,” she said. “I was hitting it well the last few holes on the front nine, just wasn’t converting. It was nice to get that birdie-birdie (10-11). Gave me a little momentum going into a couple of par 5s, and I was able to make some putts, which was really nice.”

Her approach to the 18th – Ko Olina’s toughest hole this week – squirted into the back trap. After a good bunker shot, she lipped out a 5-footer for par.

Korda watched from the fairway and missed the green with her approach. She chipped to the fringe then left her par putt short.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp (72) was tied for 44th.