Five-time LPGA Tour winner Lilia Vu nearly collected her sixth career LPGA Tour title on Sunday at the Ford Championship presented by Wild Horse Pass, but the two-time major champion ultimately fell to Hyo Joo Kim in extra holes and finished solo second at Whirlwind Golf Club.
After starting the day with a two-stroke lead over Charley Hull, Vu jockeyed for position at the top of the leaderboard throughout the entirety of the final round. After falling out of the top spot, Vu fought back and tied clubhouse leader Kim at 22-under par forcing a playoff.
The first extra hole saw both players find the fairway and hit the green, but Vu’s approach shot wound up roughly 15 feet from the hole, while Kim knocked her second to six feet to get the upper hand. The old adage in golf, “Never up, never in”, prevailed as Vu’s birdie try came up short, and she tapped in for par. Kim dropped her birdie putt for the win for the first time since the Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America back in 2023. (LPGA)
On the PGA Tour, Min Woo Lee won his first PGA Tour title on Sunday, holding off late charges from the chasing pack to win the Houston Open – and joining an exclusive club with the victory.
Lee had led by five shots on the back nine but surges from Gary Woodland – who went four-under on his last four holes – and Scottie Scheffler – who also had four-straight birdies on the back nine – made it a closer affair.
Although Lee bogeyed the 16th after hitting into the water, the Australian was able to finish with two pars and maintain his one-shot lead, tapping home from close range on the final hole to seal his debut PGA Tour victory. (CNN)
Other Teebits: A few weeks ago Desert Mashie/JGAA hosted its Annual Spring Break Championship and 300+ junior golfers from across the country participated in the 36-hole event at Encanto 9-18 and Briarwood GC in Sun City. It was an outstanding event that the youngsters enjoyed playing. Two of the valley’s top golfers, however, were not in the field. Alexis Lamadrid and Ashley Shaw, because of their ever growing status in the game, were invited to Irving, Texas to compete in the AJGA- K.J. Choi Foundation Texas Junior Championship, March 20-23. The 54-holes event was held at the Nelson Golf & Sports Club and TPC Las Colinas GC played host to 27 junior girls and 51 junior boys.
In the Girl’s Division, Angela Zhang of Bellevue, WA posted 211 (+1) for the win that edged out Lisa Herman of Jenks, OK and Shyla Brown of McKinney, TX by three shots. They posted 214 (+4). Brown is a two year participant in the Curry Cup and has earned victories in the event. Ashley Shaw of Litchfield Park fired an opening 72 (+2) on the par 70 layout and closed with 76-68-216 (+6) to finish alone in fifth place. She won the inaugural Curry Cup Championship in San Francisco and later won the John Shippen that earned her an exemption to play in an LPGA Tour event with the pros. Alexis struggled with her game over the three days. Maybe her thoughts were still in Phoenix where the Spring Break was taking place and her sister Natalia was competing. She posted rounds of 78-78-75-231 (+21) and finished T18 but is a proven winner. She is the reigning Mexico Cup Amateur Champion and is one of the best golfers in the state of Arizona.
Finally, by the time you receive this issue of the INFORMANT, April 4 1968/2025 will once again be a day to remember. Tragically, it is the day, 57-years ago, that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther KingJr. was shot and killed at the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis, TN. It was a sad day in the history of this country, just as it was when President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed in a motorcade in Dallas, TX, in 1963. Dr. King left his mark on this country’s conscious and as his work is being slowly destroyed, we must always remember to “Man Up” in all situations.
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