It was a tough day at the office for Britney Yada, but at least it was work. ADVERTISING It was a tough day at the office for Britney Yada, but at least it was work. Hilo’s Yada found trouble for
It was a tough day at the office for Britney Yada, but at least it was work.
Hilo’s Yada found trouble for the first time Sunday at the Manulife LPGA Classic, with two early double-bogeys setting the pace for a 10-over 82 that left her 8-over for her first tour finish.
Tying for the high round of the day, the 2009 Waiakea graduate finished 70th in the 71-player field in Cambridge, Ontario.
Along with leaving Canada with a boost of confidence after making her first cut, she’ll no doubt appreciate her first LPGA paycheck of $3,456, which is exceeds the $2,509 she has taken home this season in two finishes on the Symetra Tour as well as the $2,500 she earned for winning a Cactus Tour event in early May.
For comparison’s sake, Ariya Jutanugarn pocketed $255,000 of the $1.7-million purse for winning a three-way playoff at Whistle Bear Golf Club.
Yada, who has conditional LPGA Tour status, was playing on the top women’s pro tour for the third consecutive week, fourth time this season and fifth overall.
In the final round, Yada either put bogey or double-bogey on her scorecard nine times, which was something she only had to do seven times in the first three rounds.
Her only birdie Sunday came on the par-3 fifth hole as conditions turned blustery.
Brooke Henderson, who ended up as low Canadian on the week in a tie for 11th after a 71, told the LPGA website: “Today was a really tough day. Conditions were extremely difficult.”
Not for Jutanugarn, who closed with a 69 to join Lexi Thompson and In Gee Chun at 17-under. The 21-year-old from Thailand is a virtual lock to move up one position Monday and knock Lydia Ko off her perch as the world’s top-ranked women’s player.
Thompson buckled down the stretch and missed a 4-foot putt to win in regulation, forcing her to return to the 18th tee with Jutanugarn and Chun for a playoff. Jutanugarn found the rough with her drive but her approach was pin-high and she made a 25-foot birdie putt for her first victory of the season.
Jutanugarn is the 13th different winner on the LPGA Tour this season. For Thompson, it was her second playoff loss of the year and she is now 0-3 in playoffs in her LPGA Tour career.
