Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) members from Southern California have surged to the top of the leaderboards—including Andrea Lee’s first LPGA Tour win at the AmazingCre Portland Classic on Sept. 18, Danielle Kang’s return from treatment for a tumor to finish second at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on Sept. 25, and Lilia Vu in contention in both tournaments.
Hermosa Beach, Calif., native Lee was full of emotion following her victory in Portland, stating she dedicated the win “to my grandpa who passed away last November. He always believed in me and ... that I was a champion—and today I am one.” She shared a long embrace with her father, following her score of 269 total, 72–64–67–66.
Lee admittedly struggled last year, making eight cuts in 18 events, finishing 109th in earnings following her rookie 2020 season at 48th, making 11 cuts in 15 events.
“I still can’t really believe it. I think it’s still sinking in. But it was definitely one of my goals this year in the latter half of the season, and to have accomplished that, it’s just so special and means so much to me,” she said. “Everything clicked together and I stayed super patient, especially the final round after being 2–over through three holes.”
“Told myself to keep going, and no matter what happens, it’s another great opportunity to be in contention and another great experience. But luckily it went my way,” she said.
Lee catapulted to 18th from 41st on the LPGA season standings and hopes to make the U.S. Solheim Cup team for next year’s competition in Spain, as she’s currently seventh in the standings.
Danielle Kang
The six-time LPGA Tour winning veteran made only her third Tour start last week at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship since June, following treatment for a tumor on her spine.Kang tied for first following a season-best score of 64 in the final round before losing in the second play-off hole to No. 4 ranked Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand.
It was Kang’s best finish since beginning the season with a victory at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at Lake Nona, in Orlando, Fla.
“I’m just so happy for my team that somehow got me back playing this year,” said the 29-year-old Kang. “There was part of me that I didn’t think I would ever play again or contend, but here I am. I’m not that far off and I’m happy about that.”
Kang is fourth in Solheim Cup standings and is currently 14th in the Race to the CME Globe rankings.
“The journey has been very tough. It’s actually unexplainable I think. People around me experience the hardship more, trying to keep me calm and back on track. It’s taken a village to get me back out here, and I’m proud to be standing here in front of you knowing that I’m contending tomorrow,” said Kang before the final round last week, following scores of 67 and 65.
“Genuinely, I just want to cry, because it’s been a crazy journey for me and I know it’s going to be not easy moving forward. But even the fact that I got myself in contention, I’m proud, because it’s just so hard to wake up so early, and I have to do so many things so that I can just play golf,” she said.
Lilia Vu
Vu, a 24-year-old Fountain Valley, Calif., native, returned to the LPGA to find success in 2022 and is currently ranked 27th in the Race to the CME Globe and 53rd in Rolex World standings.Vu was the No. 1 ranked amateur upon finishing her college career leading the all-time victories at UCLA, before making just one cut in nine tournaments in her rookie season in 2019 and seriously considering ending her golf career.
Vu would lead the Epson Tour with three victories in 2021 to return to the LPGA for this season.
“I’m trying to think of everything in a positive way,” said Vu. “I feel like everything happens for a reason in my life, so I’m trying to stay positive.”
“I feel like it was never a matter of my game or skills that were lacking,” Vu said of her struggles. “I just wasn’t looking at golf in a healthy and positive way. Every shot was life or death. I figured it out last year, I’m just going to go out there and have fun. I know how good I am. I’m going to try my best, and whatever happens, happens. Taking that mindset into this year has helped me.”
Vu has six top-ten finishes in 2022 and was atop the leaderboard during the final rounds in the past two tournaments.
Vu tied for third at the AmazingCre Portland Classic, finishing two strokes behind Lee after starting the final round in a three-way tie alongside Lee. She tied for 16th at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship after trailing the eventual winner Thitikul by two strokes at the beginning of the final round.
“I feel like you kind of get carried away when you’re in the final group, and you’re thinking about [it] too much,” added Vu who sits eighth in Solheim Cup points. “I play my best golf when I’m not worried about myself and just trying to have fun.”
The LPGA is competing at the Ascendant LPGA benefiting Volunteers of America tournament Sept. 29–Oct. 2.
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