Katherine Muzi – Syndication Server

Monday qualifier Katherine Muzi top 10s in first LPGA start in Texas

“For me, it was just like an eye-opener,” said Muzi.

Katherine Muzi turned pro last June and shot 69 in a Monday qualifier one week ago to earn a spot in her first LPGA event. What followed was a shock to mostly everyone, including Muzi, who called making the cut at the Ascendant LPGA a “holy cow” moment.

Muzi, however, didn’t just make the cut. She shot 73-69-69-68 to finish in a share of seventh and earn $45,658.

“For me, it was just like an eye-opener,” said Muzi, “like, I can play at this level. Like it was just kind of crazy.”

After graduating from USC with a degree in business administration, Muzi traveled east to another USC – South Carolina – where she worked on a graduate degree and finished up her final year of eligibility. Over the summer, she played in the first stage of LPGA Q-School but missed the cut.

Katherine Muzi reacts to her birdie on the ninth green during the final round of the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America at Old American Golf Club in The Colony, Texas. (Photo: Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Earlier this year, Muzi became one of the first players to benefit from the new Annika Development Program at Old Barnwell in Aiken, South Carolina. To be eligible, players must be a recent graduate of a four-year college program in South Carolina, North Carolina or Georgia or a resident of one of those states who recently graduated from a four-year college program.

Muzi was joined by Krista Junkkari, Lauren Walsh and Lois Kaye Ko as first-year recipients of the program.

Benefits Muzi and others received from Annika Sorenstam’s foundation include access to Old Barnwell’s golf amenities for three years, a $10,000 stipend to help cover tournament fees and travel as well as free housing for the first year in Aiken.

“It’s just been a huge deal,” said Muzi of the Annika program’s impact. “Just by me going to South Carolina, it really opened the door.”

Last year the LPGA changed its regulations to allow a non-member who finishes in the top 10 in designated events to tee it up the next week. Unfortunately for Muzi, her top-10 in Texas won’t get her into this week’s event in China because it’s a limited-field event. Nor will it get her into the next domestic stop on the schedule – The Annika driven by Gainbridge at Pelican – because that Florida field is filled using the CME points list.

Muzi has signed up for the Monday-qualifier at Pelican next month, but there’s also a possibility that she will receive a sponsor exemption.

“The whole thing has been surreal,” said Muzi, who felt a little out of place at the Old America Golf Club with her carry bag. “Especially this being my first ever LPGA event. Like ever. And then I just a happen to be a pro just playing in it. It’s crazy.”

Hyo Joo Kim goes wire-to-wire at Ascendant LPGA to collect sixth LPGA title

Kim has now won on the LPGA in each of the past three seasons.

Hyo Joo Kim became the third player to go wire-to-wire on the LPGA this season at the 2023 Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America in Texas. The South Korean began the day with a five-shot lead and never wavered, clinching her sixth career victory with a closing 69. Kim finished with a 13-under total, four strokes ahead of Bianca Pagdanganan and Atthaya Thitikul.

“My results this year wasn’t bad,” said Kim, “but there was some disappointment because I didn’t have a win. I had a lot of the time to think just for myself, and before this year passes, I really want to win.

“This week I was able to accomplish that, and it was just a really happy week for me.”

With the victory, Kim earned $270,000 and crossed the $2 million mark in season earnings for the first time in her career. She has now won on the LPGA in each of the past three seasons.

The long-bombing Pagdanganan shot 30 on the back nine to close with a 65 and vault into a share of second. Her share of second, coupled with a T-3 last week in Arkansas, secures her LPGA card for 2024 in only 10 starts. Thitikul birdied five of her last seven holes, but no one could rattle Kim.

“Short game is pretty much everything in this sport,” said Pagdanganan, “so I’ve been just putting in more time with chipping, putting, everything around the green. I really can say that the last two weeks that’s kind of what saved my game.”

For Kemp, it was a step closer to securing her spot in the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, which includes the top 60 and ties in the year-long points race. CME is a personal sponsor of Kemp’s.

“It’s all I want to make,” said Kemp. “It’s my sponsor’s event, so I want to make it for Terry Duffy. They have been so good to me. I just want to make it so bad for them.”

Lexi Thompson entered the final round in a share of second but ended the day solo fifth at Old American Golf Club. Still, Thompson was very happy with her play as she heads into the PGA Tour event in Las Vegas next week.

“I’ll definitely need my top game going into next week,” said Thompson. “Get that driver more in tune. Didn’t hit it too much on this golf course, but I’m going to need it I’m sure there.”

Past champion Cheyenne Knight, who lives nearby and practices at Shady Oaks Country Club, closed with a bogey-free 63 to move into sixth place.

“I wasn’t feeling that great this morning,” said Knight. “It’s just been I feel like I’m just a little bit tired just like since Solheim. Just kind of been going.

“Once I tee’d off I was like, all right, you got 18 more holes and then I get a break, because I’m not playing until Malaysia. Told myself to enjoy it and kind of put but things into perspective. My family is out here watching and kind of get out of my own way a little bit.

Monday qualifier Katherine Muzi, playing in her first LPGA event, tied for seventh. Muzi played college golf at USC and South Carolina, where she worked at the latter toward a graduate certificate in data and communication. Because next week’s LPGA stop in China is a limited-field event, Muzi’s top 10 in Texas does not get her in.

“The whole thing has been surreal,” said Muzi, “especially this being my first ever LPGA event. Like ever. And then I just a happen to be a pro just playing in it. It’s crazy.”

Katherine Muzi, Mats Ege claim Golfweek Moorpark Amateur titles

Mats Ege and Katherine Muzi finished atop tough West Coast fields at Moorpark Country Club.

In the end, Mats Ege was able to hold off a hard-charging Jonathan Kang for a fall win at a time when competition has been few and far between. Ege, a freshman at California State-Northridge, was steady all week at the Golfweek Moorpark Amateur at Moorpark (California) Country Club. Despite rounds of 66-69-68, Kang caught him at 13 under on the final day with help from nine final-round birdies.

Kang, a graduate student at UC Irvine, effectively played his way into extra holes that way. His birdies on his final two holes, Nos. 14 and 15, were key.

Ege ended it quickly with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff. The player from Norway has made a handful of starts at home the past few months, and also recently finished fifth in an event in San Diego sponsored by the Golf Coaches Association of America.

“It really great to see my college friends again and I look forward to the spring season,” he said of being back stateside.

Scores: Golfweek Moorpark Amateur

Ege and Kang were in a different zip code by the end of the week at Moorpark. The next closest players, Santa Clara’s Alex Conley and Fresno State’s Tommy Stephenson were tied for third at 7 under. San Diego State’s Youssef Guezzale was solo third at 6 under.

In the women’s division, USC junior Katherine Muzi prevailed at 2 under. Rounds of 72-70-72 left her one shot out of a large group at 1 under that included San Diego State’s Fernanda Escauriza, Illinois’ Isabel Sy and Yael Berger, who will be a freshman at Arizona.

Muzi was in the top 20 at the SCGA Women’s Amateur and inside the top 10 at the California Women’s Amateur over the summer.

“This is my first victory in a long time,” she said. “I’ve worked very hard. Just playing in these conditions was very tough. I stayed consistent and played my own game and had a positive mentality which I felt was very important to this win.”

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