LPGA Drive On – Page 2 – Syndication Server

Austin Ernst clinches third LPGA title with wire-to-wire victory at Drive On

“(Austin’s) really starting to believe in herself,” Drew Ernst said. “You can tell just talking to her, she’s almost a different person.”

OCALA, Florida – Austin Ernst won her first tournament on the LPGA seven years ago in a playoff. For her second title, she carded a final-round 63 to come from behind at last year’s Walmart NW Arkansas Championship. At the LPGA Drive On, the 29-year-old went wire-to-wire to win by five strokes over Jennifer Kupcho.

“I think it’s just really cool to be in the heat of it all week and to be able to perform the way I did,” said Ernst, who closed with a 70 to finish at 15-under 273.

“To hit the shots I hit, and to shoot the scores I shot, I think it’s just kind of a testament to me, that I can do this week in and week out and just if I have a little belief myself kind of what I can do.”

Ernst’s older brother Drew had a front-row seat every week as Austin’s caddie and her performance in Ocala only confirmed what he’s already known. Just last week, Drew told his sister that she was a top-10 player in the world.

“She’s really starting to believe in herself,” said Drew. “You can tell just talking to her, she’s almost a different person.”

Austin Ernst putts on the 11th green during the final round of the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala Golf Club on March 07, 2021, in Ocala, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Americans have now won the first three events of the season for the first time since 2007. Jessica and Nelly Korda, two of Ernst’s good friends, won the first two events in Florida. Jessica will be Austin’s maid of honor later this year.

“I practice a good bit with Jess, play a good bit with Jess, play a bit with Nelly out here,” said Austin. “We always want to beat each other, so I think it’s kind of one of those things that it just kind of pushes you. When you see your friends win, you want to win. So you kind of want it one-up them as much as you can.”

The friendly competition will continue all year as Americans jockey for position in the Rolex Rankings for a berth in the Summer Olympics and Solheim Cup team.

A maximum of four U.S. players could qualify for Tokyo and all four must be ranked in the top 15. Ernst was ranked 33^rd coming into the week and Kupcho was 21^st.

The two NCAA champions came into Sunday’s final round separated by a single stroke. The next group of players sat six strokes back.

Four consecutive birdies on the front nine built Ernst’s lead to six as she made the turn.

There are three Augusta National replica holes at Golden Ocala and the final round featured Sunday Masters hole locations. It looked like Kupcho might summon some of her Amen Corner magic when she pulled hybrid out on the 12^th hole (a replica of the 13^th).

Kupcho, of course, stuffed a 3-hybrid to 6 feet at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur two years ago and poured in a pivotal eagle putt en route to victory. On Sunday at Drive On, her 4-hybrid from about 200 yards settled to the right of the hole this time.

“I thought the putt was falling the whole way,” said Kupcho of her eagle putt, “and just wrapped right around the hole. Really tough hole location to make a putt on for sure where I was at.”

Kupcho settled for birdie and cut Ernst’s lead to three strokes with six holes to play. Kupcho’s momentum ended there, however, as a bogey on No. 13 from and a watery tee shot on the 15^th essentially sealed the victory for Ernst.

“I didn’t really think it was over until I hit the tee shot on 15,” said Kupcho. “Everyone hits bad shots. It’s just unfortunate that’s when mine came for the week.”

Professional golf has long been a family affair for the Ernsts. Their father Mark, general manager and director of golf at Cross Creek Plantation in Seneca, South Carolina, is her swing coach. That’s where she’ll marry Jason Dods in October, the week of the ShopRite LPGA.

Austin has stayed with Dods’ family for host housing in Atlantic City since her rookie year in 2013. The Dods have five children and Austin didn’t meet Jason, who was already out of the house, until 2016. When Jason came back in 2018, they hit it off over nightly family dinners. Austin was already in love with his mom’s cooking.

Now she’s in love with Jason’s cooking too.

“I think I’m so happy off the golf course,” said Austin, “that’s it has kind of translated on the golf course.”

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Late eagle vaults Jennifer Kupcho to within one of Austin Ernst at LPGA Drive On

A late eagle vaulted Jennifer Kupcho to within one of Austin Ernst at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

OCALA, Fla. – When Jennifer Kupcho got to the 18^th tee on Saturday at Golden Ocala, she could feel an eagle coming on. For a brief moment, it looked like Kupcho’s second shot into the par-5 18^th might find the flagstick. Not that she was actually aiming there.

“When I got down there to the fairway, I definitely didn’t think it would be possible to get it close,” said Kupcho who had 215 yards to the hole. “And I was not aiming anywhere close to where my ball went, but it happened to go right at the pin and carried by a couple yards, carried the water by a couple yards, and ended up in a good spot.”

Kupcho curled in a 12-foot birdie putt to pull within one shot of Austin Ernst at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

Known for her par-5 heroics at Augusta National, Kupcho will have a chance to match the effort on Golden Ocala’s three tribute holes as the Sunday hole locations will be identical to what players face in the final round of the Masters. (The three holes are patterned after 12, 13, and 16.)

While Kupcho looks to breaks through with her first LPGA title, Ernst looks to collect her third. A patient Ernst shot 69 on a wintery day in Florida that brought a little of everything to get to 13 under par; Kupcho carded a 70 to get to 12 under. The pair have separated themselves from the field as the next trio sits six shots back at 7 under.

Sisters Jessica and Nelly Korda swept the first two events of the LPGA season. The last time Americans won the first three events of the year was 2007.

Ernst admittedly didn’t have her “best stuff” on Saturday but was pleased to still shoot under par.

“I couldn’t have that done that a few years ago,” she said. “I don’t think I would’ve been as patient as I was today. When the wind picked up on the back nine especially, we had a few longer shots than we’ve had and we had a few pins that were a little tougher to get to.”

Former Stanford standout Albane Valenzuela carded the day’s low round, 66, to take a share of third with fellow rookie Patty Tavatanakit and Jenny Coleman.

Valenzuela battled a slew of physical ailments in recent months including a nerve injury, an appendicitis and most recently, a bout with COVID-19. She’ll play in the final group on Sunday in Ocala alongside former NCAA champions Ernst and Kupcho.

“My expectations where a bit all over the place and definitely a huge disappointment,” said Valenzuela of 2020. “Overall there were so many things that I couldn’t control, being injured and having so many health injuries.

“For me 2021, even if we’re not out on of COVID, it’s a huge reset button for me. Just happy with where I am right now.”

Coleman, whose previous best finish on the LPGA was a tie for 26^th, has her identical twin Kristin with her this week. Jenny finished third on the Symetra Tour money list to earn her LPGA card; Kristen still competes on the developmental circuit. The identical twins are each other’s coaches.

“I would say they’re a little bit different,” said Jenny when asked to compare their swing. “She has more of a flattening transition and mine is fairly more one-planed. A lot of people think we swing pretty similar because our setup and our finish is similar.”

Both Carlota Ciganda (75) and Nelly Korda (76) tumbled down the leaderboard on Saturday and are now eight and 10 shots back, respectively.

Ernst’s brother Drew has caddied for her since midway through her rookie year in 2013 and her father, Mark, director of operations at Cross Creek Plantation in Seneca, South Carolina, is her swing coach. Mark keeps an eye on Austin through television coverage when he can at work.

“On Thursday he said, ‘Hey, everything looks good,’ ” said Austin. “I’ll talk to him today. I didn’t hit it quite as well, but we’ll talk about it.”

Last year Mark noticed something in his daughter’s putting at the AIG Women’s British Open at Royal Troon. She put it in play immediately the next week and won in Arkansas.

“I think it does help having his eyes where he can see something,” said Austin, “whether it’s tempo-related or whatever it is, just a quick fix.”

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Unrelated identical twins make big moves at LPGA Drive On

Two sets of identical twins are making names for themselves at at the LPGA Drive On Championship.

OCALA, Florida – While the Kordas have dominated 2021 early winning the first two events, they aren’t the only sister acts worth noting at this week’s LPGA Drive On. Jenny Coleman and Leona Maguire – who are both in the top 10 at Golden Ocala – have identical twin sisters who also played professional golf.

Ireland’s Maguire sisters played together at Duke with Leona spending 131 weeks as the No. 1 amateur in the world. Leona’s sister Lisa, who rose as high as 35th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, played professionally on the Symetra Tour before recently switching gears to dental school.

Jenny Coleman and her sister Kristin played together at Colorado and then on the Symetra Tour. Jenny finished third on the 2019 Symetra Tour money list to graduate to the LPGA. Kristin still competes on the developmental circuit.

Both Leona and Jenny are looking to post a career-best finish in Ocala. Jenny, 28, has $19,668 in career earnings on the LPGA with her best finish, a T-26, coming at last year’s ISPS Handa Vic Open.

Leona Maguire (left) Lisa Maguire (right)

“Usually I’m a pretty solid ball-striker,” said Coleman after Friday’s 3-under 69, “and all I’m waiting for is the putts to drop. I got that going the last couple days.”

Jenny Coleman held or shared 28 school records when she left Boulder. Her biggest golf superstition: She only uses even-numbered golf balls; her sister takes the odds.

When Leona Maguire, 26, won the 2012 Irish Girls Stroke Play Championship, it was her sister Lisa’s name that was engraved on the trophy. Lisa only who found out about it when the next year’s winner sent her a congratulatory text.

Mix-ups are commonplace for the talented pair.

The Maguires made their professional debuts at the 2018 ShopRite LPGA Classic. Leona won 10 times at Duke and owns the three lowest single-season stroke averages in school history. She was a two-time ANNIKA Award winner for national player of the year.

Coleman sisters pose with Dana Finkelstein and Perrine Delacour (LPGA)

Leona tied for 16^th last week at the Gainbridge LPGA on her home course, Lake Nona. Her career-best finish also came at last year’s ISPS Handa Vic Open, where she tied for fourth.

In 2020, Leona led the tour in overall putting and says Aimpoint is a reason for the rise, particularly on putts with a lot of break. She learned the putting system with her coach midway through last year.

“So I had been using green books before that,” said Leona, “but I guess I wasn’t using them properly. Yeah, now that I’m doing it properly it helps a little. … It was something I stayed clear of for a long time. I didn’t like the idea of AimPoint. I liked playing quick and I didn’t want it to slow me down. It’s actually is really quick and I really like the new way of doing it.”

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Ashleigh Buhai prepped for 2021 by taking on childhood idol Ernie Els. Took his money too.

LPGA golfer Ashleigh Buhai took on her childhood idol Ernie Els ahead of the 2021 season and made some money off their round.

OCALA, Florida – Ashley Buhai had a life-sized poster of Ernie Els in her bedroom growing up. She first met her idol at the 1998 South Africa Open, which played about five minutes from her home. Buhai took the poster to the tournament to have it signed by the four-time major winner.

They’ve met several times since then but only recently started playing casual golf in south Florida now that Buhai has a home in Palm Beach Gardens. She might have taken a little money off of the Hall of Famer too.

Buhai, a three-time Ladies South African Open winner, played her first round in four weeks with Els and Branden Grace, who won last week’s Puerto Rico Open on the PGA Tour. She made nine birdies out at Turtle Creek to take $50 off them.

“They were pretty impressed with that,” said Buhai, who currently sits in a tie for seventh at the LPGA Drive On Championship after rounds of 70-70.

With such a short offseason, Buhai, 31, didn’t go back home to South Africa due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was hard enough getting back to the tour last summer when it restarted, taking 38 hours from their home to Chicago.

“I mean, obviously miss not being able to go back to South Africa,” said Buhai of having an American base, “but I think it’s going to be really good for me. It’s going to give me a sense of somewhere to go on my off weeks and not living out a suitcase all the time.

“I used to play so much because I didn’t have anywhere to go kind of thing. I’m going to be able to plan my schedule a little bit better and rest up more.”

Ashleigh’s husband, David, currently caddies for 2019 U.S. Women’s Open winner Jeongeun Lee6. The couple first met at a golf academy in Johannesburg and were dating long distance when David flew out to sub in after Ashleigh’s caddied suffered a broken leg.

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David, who was a general manager of a shoe store at the time, never went back, looping for Ashleigh until they got married.

Ashleigh, who is still looking for her first LPGA title, said playing with Els was as much of a rush for David as it was for her.

“It was funny, when I tee’d it up with (Els) and even Brandon I felt at ease,” she said. “which was cool. I wasn’t nervous. My husband Dave got to play. I think he was more excited than me and he held his own too, so it was cool.”

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Golden Ocala’s replica holes might look familiar, but aren’t set up quite like the Masters

Golden Ocala, host of the LPGA Drive on Championship, has a few holes that look like holes at Augusta National, but aren’t exactly the same.

OCALA, Florida – When the LPGA first came to Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club six years ago, only two of the eight tribute holes had held women’s championships in the past 25 years – or ever.

Since then, Royal Troon staged its first Women’s British Open last year and majors are scheduled for Muirfield (2022), the Old Course (2024) and Baltusrol (KPMG Women’s PGA 2023). And of course, Jennifer Kupcho made history in 2019 by winning the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Many players at this week’s LPGA Drive On point to No. 11 at Golden Ocala, patterned after No. 12 at Augusta National, as their favorite tribute hole.

“It’s so lifelike,” said Laura Davies. “I’ve only stood on it once playing. I’ve stood there many a time watching the guys, but it is so similar it’s frightening. It’s very frightening actually.”

Amen Corner certainly isn’t playing as short for LPGA players as it typically does for the men at the Masters. Many women are hitting 8-iron or 7-iron into the 11^th, where the winds have been swirling. Still, it’s a step up from the 6-iron Danielle Kang had in during the practice round.

LPGA Drive On Championship: Leaderboard

“Even with a wedge in your hand you know you have to be very meticulous on what kind of shot you want to hit with the green falling off the front, left, and the right,” said Kang. “It’s just I want those things to be in play instead of just hitting to the middle and trying to two-putt and things like that.”

The par-5 12^th (patterned after the 13^th at Augusta) hasn’t been reachable for most either. Jennifer Kupcho famously stuffed a hybrid to 6 feet en route to her ANWA victory. She’s been laying up every day this week.

“It’s kind of hard with my length to go for it this week,” said Kupcho. “The area around the greens and the greens being so hard it’s really hard to justify chipping when I could hit a wedge shot.”

The par-3 sixth hole, patterned after the 16^th at Augusta, certainly didn’t play like it normally does for the men, who typically hit wedge into a front hole location.

No 11 at Ocala for the LPGA Drive on Championship, which is a replica of the 12th at Augusta National. (Beth Ann Nichols/Golfweek)

On Friday, the hole played 162 yards with a front hole location and the tees placed in the back. Lindy Duncan hit a soaring 7-iron pin-high downwind and watched it bound 40 feet past the hole on the firm Bermuda green. Many players in the field told a similar tale. Cheyenne Knight hit a 6-iron that she knew wouldn’t get close. It finished 63 feet past the hole.

Ashleigh Buhai counts Royal Troon as her favorite links course and the par-3 fourth, the Postage Stamp hole (No. 8 at Troon), as her favorite replica.

“I played it pretty well in Scotland,” said Buhai, “so I think the memories come back.

“It’s pretty similar. I mean, the green isn’t as severe and maybe plays a little bit longer and doesn’t run off as much on the right. It’s a little bit more forgiving, but on the eye it’s a very cool looking hole.”

The bunkers are more forgiving too, noted Buhai, who managed get up and down for par on Friday.

Other tribute holes include No. 5 (Muirfield No. 9), No. 13 (Old Course at St. Andrews No. 17), No. 14 (Old Course at St. Andrews No. 1) and No. 15 (Lower Course at Baltusrol No 4).

The only tribute hole that Nelly Korda has played so far in its original form is the Postage Stamp. She’ll see the rest soon enough.

“So really everything is going to be a replica of Ocala,” she said, laughing.

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Ally McDonald has a birthday to remember, edges Danielle Kang at LPGA Drive On

Ally McDonald wins the LPGA Drive On Championship on her 28th birthday.